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THE 


WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF 

“the  morning  and  night  watches,”  “the 

FAITHFUL  PEOMISEK,”  ETC. 


from  IJr  last  HlonlJon 


NEW  YORK: 
OAKLEY  & MASON, 

21  MURRAY  STREET. 


18G8. 


. ■i^'jf-.v." ;/  -/ 


3 


IV)  \ ^ 

®0riijs  flf  IfSttS. 


“ A WORD  spoken  in  season,”  says  the  wise  man,  “ how 
good  it  is  !”  If  this  be  true  regarding  the  utterances  of  un- 
inspired lips,  with  what  devout  and  paramount  interest 
must  we  invest  the  sayings  of  Incarnate  Truth— “the 
WORDS  OF  Jksds.” 

We  have,  in  the  motto-verses  which  head  the  succeeding 
pages,  a few  comforting  responses  from  the  Oracle  of  heav- 
enly Wisdom — a few  grapes  plucked  from  the  true  Vine  — 
living  streams  welling  fresh  from  the  Living  Fountain. 
Every  portion  of  Scripture  is  designed  for  nutriment  to  the 
soul — “ the  bread  of  life  but  surely  we  may  well  regard 
the  recorded  Words  of  Jesus'^'*  as  “the  finest  of  the 
wheat.”  These  are  the  “ Honey  ” out  of  the  true  “ Rock,” 
with  which  He  will  “ satisfy  ” us.  “ The  words  that  I speak 
unto  you,  they  are  spirit  and  they  are  life.” 

The  following  are  selected  more  especially  as  Words 
for  the  Weary'"' — healing  leaves  for  the  wounded  spirit 
falling  from  the  Tree  of  Life.  Jesus  was  divinely  qualified 
for  this  special  ofl&ce  of  speaking  “ many  and  comfortable 
Words.”  The  Lord  God  hath  given  me  the  tongue  of  the 
learned,  that  I might  know  how  to  speak  a Word  in  Season 
to  him  that  is  weary." 

Let  us,  like  the  disciple  of  Patmos,  turn  to  hear  the  voice 
that  speaks  to  us,  saying,  “ I wait  for  the  Lord,  my  soul 
doth  wait,  and  in  His  Word  do  I hope.”  Eighteen  hun- 
dred years  have  elapsed  since  these  “ words”  were  uttered. 
With  tones  of  unaltered  and  unchanged  affection,  they  are 
still  echoed  from  the  inner  sanctuary — they  come  this  day 
fresh  as  they  were  spoken,  from  the  lips  of  Him  whose  me- 
morial to  all  time  is  this  : “ that  same  Jesus." 

Reader,  seek  to  realise,  in  meditating  on  them,  the  simple 
but  solemn  truth — Christ  speaks  to  me  !"  Surely  nothing 
can  be  more  soothing  with  which  to  close  your  eyes  on  your 
nightly  pillow,  or  to  carry  with  you  in  the  morning  out  to 
the  duties  (or,  it  may  be^  the  trials  and  sorrows)  of  the  day 
than— “A  WORD  OF  JESUS.” 


702992 


4 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


1st  Day  of  Month. 


“Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  I will  give  you  rest.”— Matt.  xi.  28. 


Gkaciol'S  “ word  ’’  of 
a gracious  Saviour,  on 
which  the  soul  may  con- 


■fljB  (Srnrintis 
Snnitfltinn. 


fidingly  repose,  and  he  at  peace  for 
ever  ? It  is  2.  present  rest — the  rest  of 
grace  as  well  as  the  rest  of  glory.  IsTot 
only  are  there  signals  of  peace  hung  out 
from  the  walls  of  heaven — the  lights  of 
Home  glimmering  in  the  distance  to 
cheer  our  footsteps ; but  we  have  the 
shado.w”  of  this  great  Hock”  in  a 
present  weary  land.”  Before  the 
Tlirone  alone  is  there  the  sea  of 
glass,”  without  one  rippling  wave ; but 
-there  is  a haven  even  on  earth  for  the 
tempest-tossed — ^^"We  which  have  be- 
lieved DO  enter  into  rest.” 

Reader,  hast  thou  found  this  blessed 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESDS. 


5 


repose  in  the  blood  and  work  of  Im- 
manuel ? Long  going  about  ‘‘  seeking 
rest  and  finding  none,”  does  this  ^ Vord” 
sound  like  music  in  thine  ears — Come 
unto  Me  All  other  peace  is  counter- 
feit, shadowy,  unreal.  The  eagle  spurns 
the  gilded  cage  as  a poor  equivalent  for 
his  free-born  soarings.  The  soul’s  im- 
mortal aspirations  can  be  satisfied  with 
nothing  short  of  the  possession  of  God’s 
favour  and  love  in  Jesus. 

How  unqualified  is  the  invitation ! 
If  there  had  been  one  condition  in  en- 
tering this  covenant  Ark,  we  must  have 
been  through  eternity  at  the  mercy  of 
the  storm.  But  all  are  alike  warranted 
and  welcome,  and  none  moi^e  warranted 
than  welcome.  For  the  weak,  the 
weary,  the  sin-burdened  and  sorrow- 
burdened,  there  is  an  open  door  of 
grace. 

Return,  then  unto  thy  rest,  O my 
soul ! Let  the  sweet  cadence  of  this 
^^word  of  Jesus”  steal  on  thee  amid 


6 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


the  disquietudes  of  earth.  Sheltered  in 
Him,  thou  art  safe  for  time,  safe  for 
eternity  ! There  may  be,  and^^?^7^  be, 
temporary  tossings,  fears,  and  misgiv- 
ings,— manifestations  of  inward  corrup- 
tion ; but  these  will  only  be  like  the 
surface-heavings  of  the  ocean,  while 
underneath  there  is  a deep  settled  calm. 
“ Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace” 
{Jyit,  peace,  peace)  ‘^whosemindis  stayed 
on  Thee.”  In  the  world  it  is  care  on 
care,  trouble  on  trouble,  sin  on  sin; 
but  every  wave  that  breaks  on  the 
believer’s  soul  seems  sweetly  to  mur- 
mur, Peace,  peace!” 

And  if  the  foretaste  of  this  rest  be 
precious,  what  must  be  the  glorious 
consummation?  Awaking  in  the  morn- 
ing of  immortality  with  the  unquiet 
dream  of  earth  over — ^faith  lost  in  sight, 
and  hope  in  fruition; — no  more  any  bias 
to  sin — no  more  latent  principles  of  evil 
— nothing  to  disturb  the  spirit’s  deep, 
everlasting  tranquillity — the  trembling 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


7 


magnet  of  the  lieart  reposing,  where 
alone  it  can  confidingly  and  perma- 
nently rest,  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
Infinite  God. 

“ THKSB  THINGS  HAVE  I SPOKEN  UNTO  YOU,  THAT  IN  ME  YB 
MIGHT  HAVE  PEACE.” 


8 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS, 


2d  Day. 

“ Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ Your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all 
these  things.”— Matt.  vL  82. 


Though  spoken  ori- 
ginally by  Jesus 
regarding  temporal 


^3s3tirnntL 


things,  this  may  be  taken  as  a motto 
for  the  child  of  God  amid  all  the 
changing  vicissitudes  of  his  changing 
history.  How  it  should  lull  all  mis- 
givings ; silence  all  murmurings  ; lead 
to  lowly,  unquestioning  submissiveness 
^ ^ My  Heavenly  F atlier  knoweth  that 
I have  need  of  all  these  things.” 

Where  can  a child  be  safer  or  better 
than  in  a father’s  hand  ? Where  can 
the  believer  be  better  than  in  the  hands 
of  his  God  ? We  are  poor  judges  of 
what  is  best.  We  are  under  safe  guid- 
ance with  infallible  wisdom.  If  we  are 
tempted  in  a moment  of  rash  presump- 
tion to  say,  All  these  things  are 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


9 


against  me,”  let  this  word  ” rebuke 
the  hasty  and  unworthy  surmise.  Un- 
erring wisdom  and  Fatherly  love  have 
pronounced  all  to  be  needful.” 

My  soul,  is  there  aught  that  is  dis- 
turbing thy  peace  ? Are  providences 
dark,  or  crosses  heavy  ? Are  spiritual 
props  removed,  creature  comforts  cur- 
tailed, gourds  smitten  and  withered  like 
grass?— write  on  each,  ‘^Yoar  Father 
knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these 
things^  It  was  He  who  increased  thy 
burden.  Why  ? It  was  neededi 
It  was  he  who  smote  down  thy  clay 
idol.  Why  ? ‘‘  It  was  needeF^  it 

was  supplanting  Himself  : He  had  to 
remove  it ! It  was  He  who  crossed 
thy  worldly  schemes,  marred  thy  cher- 
ished hopes.  Why  ? ‘‘It  was  needed^ 
There  was  a lurking  thorn  in  the  co- 
veted path.  There  was  some  higher 
spiritual  blessing  in  reversion.  “ He 
‘prevented'^  thee  with  the  blessings  of 
His  goodness.” 


10 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


Seek  to  ckerisli  a spirit  of  more 
cliildlike  confidence  in  ihj  Heavenly 
Father’s  will.  Then  art  not  left  nnbe- 
friended  and  alone  to  buffet  the  storms 
of  the  wilderness.  Thy  Marahs  as  well 
as  thy  Elims  are  appointed  by  Him. 
A gracious  pillar-cloud  is  before  thee. 
Follow  it  through  sunshine  and  storm. 
He  may  ‘‘  lead  thee  about,”  but  He  will 
not  lead  thee  wrong.  Unutterable  ten- 
derness is  the  characteristic  of  all  His 
dealings.  Blessed  be  His  name,”  says 
a tried  believer,  ‘‘  He  maketh  my  feet 
like  hinds’  feet  ” (J^iterally^  ‘‘  equaleth  ” 
them),  ^^he  equaleth  them  for  every 
precipice,  every  ascent,  every  leap.” 

And  who  is  it  that  speaks  this  quiet- 
ing word  ? It  is  He  who  Himself  felt 
the  preciousness  of  the  assurance  dur- 
ing His  own  awful  sufferings,  that  all 
were  needed^  and  all  appointed ; that 
from  Bethlehem’s  cradle  to  Calvary’s 
Cross  there  was  not  the  redundant 
thorn  in  the  chaplet  of  sorrow  which 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


11 


He,  the  Man  of  Sorrows,  bore.  Every 
drop  in  his  bitter  cup  was  mingled  by 
His  Father:  This  cup  which  Thou 
givest  me  to  drink,  shall  I not  drink 
it !”  Oh,  if  He  could  extract  comfort 
in  this  hour  of  inconceivable  agony,  in 
the  thought  that  a Father’s  hand  light- 
ed the  fearful  furnace-fires,  what  strong 
consolation  is  there  in  the  same  truth 
to  all  his  suffering  people  ! 

What  ! one  superfiuous  drop ! one 
redundant  pang  ! one  unneeded  cross ! 
Hush  the  secret  atheism ! He  gave 
His  Son  for  thee ! He  calls  Himself 
thy  F ather  !”  Whatever  be  the  trial 
under  which  thou  art  now  smarting,  let 
the  word  of  a gracious  Saviour  be 
like  oil  thrown  on  the  fretful  sea 
let  it  dry  every  rebellious  tear-drop. 

He,  thine  unerring  Parent,  knoweth 
that  thou  hast  need  of  this  as  well  as 
all  these  things.” 

“ THY  WORD  IS  VERT  SURE,  THEREFORE  THY  SERVANT 
LOVKTH  IT.” 


12 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


8d  Dat. 


“ Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said*’— 

“ Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I do, 
that  the  Father  may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.” — John  xiv. 
13. 


Blessed  Jesus  ! it  is 
Tliou  wlio  hast  unlocked 
to  Thy  people  the  gates 


€1je  f flinrx  nf 


of  prayer.  Without  Thee  they  must 
liave  been  shut  forever.  It  was  Thy 
atoningmerit  on  earth  that  first  opened 
them ; it  is  Tliy  intercessory  work  in 
heaven  that  keeps  them  open  still. 

How  unlimited  the  promise— “ What- 
soever ye  shall  ask  P’  It  is  the  pledge 
of  all  that  the  needy  sinner  requires — 
all  that  an  Omnipotent  Saviour  can 
bestow  ! As  the  great  Steward  of  the 
mysteries  of  grace,  He  seems  to  say  to 
His  faithful  servants,  ‘‘  Take  thy  bill, 
and  under  this,  my  superscription,  write 
what  you  please.”  And  then,  when 
the  blank  is  filled  up,  he  further  en- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


13 


dorses  eacli  petition  with  the  words,  ‘‘  / 

WILL  do  it 

He  farther  encourages  us  to  ask  in 
[Us  nameP  In  the  case  of  an  earthly 
petitioner  there  are  some  pleas  more 
influential  in  obtaining  a boon  than 
others.  Jesus  speaks  of  this  as  form- 
ing the  key  to  the  heart  of  God.  As 
David  loved  the  helpless  cripple  of 
Saul’s  house  ^^for  Jonathan^ s sake^^^  so 
will  the  Father,  by  virtue  of  our  cove- 
nant relationship  to  the  true  J onathai!^ 
{lit^  “ the  gift  of  God  ”),  delight  in  giv- 
ing us  even  ‘‘  exceeding  abundantly 
above  all  that  we  can  ask  or  think.” 

Header,  do  you  know  the  blessedness 
of  confiding  your  every  want  and  every 
care— your  every  sorrow  and  every 
cross — into  the  ear  of  the  Saviour  ? He 
is  the  W onderful  Counsellor.”  With 
an  exquisitely  tender  sympathy  He  can 
enter  into  the  innermost  depths  of  your 
need.  That  need  may  be  great,  but 
the  everlasting  arms  are  underneath  it 
2 


14: 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


all.  Think  of  Him  now,  at  this  mo- 
ment-— the  great  angel  of  the  Covenant, 
with  the  censer  full  of  much  incense, 
in  which  are  placed  your  feeblest  aspi- 
rations, your  most  burdened  sighs — the 
odour-breathing  cloud  ascending  with 
acceptance  before  the  Father’s  throne. 
The  answer  may  tarry ; — these  your 
supplications  may  seem  to  be  kept  long 
on  the  wing,  hovering  around  the 
mercy-seat.  A gracious  God  sometimes 
sees  it  meet  thus  to  test  the  faith  and 
patience  of  His  people.  He  delights  to 
hear  the  music  of  their  importunate 
pleadings-— to  see  them  undeterred  by 
diflSculties— unrepelled  by  apparent  for- 
getfulness and  neglect.  But  He  will 
come  at  last ; the  pent-up  fountain  of 
love  and  mercy  will  at  length  burst  out; 
— the  soothing  accents  will  in  His  own 
good  time  be  heard,  Be  it  unto  thee 
according  to  thy  word!” 

Soldier  of  Christ!  with  all  thine 
other  panoply,  forget  not  the  All- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


15 


prayer P It  is  that  which  keeps  bright 
and  shining  the  whole  armour  of 
God.”  While  yet  out  in  the  night  of 
a dark  world — whilst  still  bivouacking 
in  an  enemy’s  country — ^kindle  thy 
watch-fires  at  the  altar  of  incense. 
Thou  must  be  Moses,  pleading  on  the 
Mount,  if  thou  wouldst  be  Joshua, 
victorious  in  the  world’s  daily  battle. 
Confide  thy  cause  to  this  waiting  Ee-  . 
deemer.  Thou  canst  not  weary  Him 
with  thine  importunity.  He  delights 
in  hearing.  His  Father  is  glorified  in 
giving.  The  memorable  Bethany- 
utterance  remains  unaltered  and  unre- 
pealed— knew  that  Thou  hearest 
me  always.’^  He  is  still  the  Prince 
that  has  power  with  God  and  prevails  ” 
— still  He  promises  and  pleads — still 
He  lives  and  loves ! 

“l  WAIT  FOR  THE  LORD,  MT  SOUL  DOTH  WAIT  I AND  IN 
HIS  WORD  DO  I HOPE.” 


16 


THE  WORDS  OP  JESUS. 


4th  Day. 

“Remember  tlie  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said^^— 

“What  I do  thou  knowest  not  now ; but  thou  shalt  know 
hereafter.” — John  xiii.  7. 


pu  O BLESSED  day,  when 

€!lt  atintllr!!  tie  long  sealed  book  of 
DtEllIlgS*  mystery  shall  be  un- 
folded, when  the  “fountains  of  the 
great  deep  shall  be  broken  np,”  “ the 
channels  of  the  waters  seen,”  and  all 
discovered  to  be  one  vast  revelation  of 
unerring  wisdom  and  ineffable  love ! 
Here  we  are  often  baffled  at  the  Lord’s 
dispensations  ; we  cannot  fathom  His 
ways : — ^like  the  well  of  Sychar,  they 
are  deep,  and  we  have  nothing  to  draw 
with.  But  soon  the  “mystery  of  God  will 
be  finished the  enigmatical  “ seals,” 
with  all  their  inner  meanings,  opened. 
When  that  “ morning  without  clouds  ” 
shall  break,  each  soul  will  be  like  the 
angel  standing  in  the  sun — there  will 
be  no  shadow  ; all  will  be  perfect  day ! 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


17 


Believer,  be  still ! The  dealings  of 
thy  Heavenly  Father  may  seem  dark 
to  thee ; there  may  seem  now  to  be  no 
golden  fringe,  no  bright  light  in  the 
clouds  but  a day  of  disclosures  is 
at  hand.  “ Take  it  on  trust  a little 
while.’’  An  earthly  child  takes  07i 
trust  what  his  father  tells  him  : when 
he  reaches  maturity,  much  that  was 
bafSiing  to  his  infant  comprehension  is 
explained.  Thou  art  in  this  world  in 
the  nonage  of  thy  being — ^Eternity  is 
the  soul’s  immortal  manhood.  There^ 
every  dealing  will  be  vindicated.  It 
will  lose  all  ^ its  darkness  ” when 
bathed  in  the  floods  of  the  excellent 
glory !” 

Ah ! instead  of  thus  being  as  weaned 
children,  how  apt  are  we  to  exercise  our- 
selves in  matters  too  high  for  us  ? not 
content  with  knowing  that  our  Father 
wills  it,  but  presumptuously  seeking  to 
know  how  it  is,  and  why  it  is.  If  it  be 
unfair  to  pronounce  on  the  unfinished 
2* 


18 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


and  incompleted  works  of  man ; if  the 
painter,  or  sculptor,  or  artificer,  Avould 
shrink  from  having  his  labours  judged 
of  when  in  a rough,  unpolished,  imma- 
tured  state  ; how  much  more  so  with 
the  works  of  God  ? How  we  should 
honour  Him  by  a simple,  confiding,  un- 
reserved submxission  to  His  will, — con- 
tented patiently  to  wait  the  fulfilment 
of  this  “ Tiereafter  ” promise,  when  all 
the  lights  and  shadows  in  the  now  half- 
finished  picture  will  be  blended  and 
melted  into  one  harmonious  whole,— 
when  all  the  now  disjointed  stones  in 
the  temple  will  be  seen  to  fit  into  their 
appointed  place,  giving  unity,  and  com- 
pactness, and  symmetry,  to  all  the 
building. 

And  who  is  it  that  speaks  these  liv- 
ing ^Gvords,”  What  Zdo?”  Is  it  He 
who  died  for  us  ? who  now  lives  for  us ! 
Blessed  Jesus ! Thou  mayest  do  much 
that  our  blind  hearts  would  like  un- 
done,— ^Terrible  things  in  righteousness 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


19 


which  we  looked  not  for.”  The  heavi- 
est (what  we  may  be  tempted  to  call 
the  severest)  cross  Thou  canst  lay  upon 
us  we  shall  regard  as  only  the  apparent 
severity  of  unutterable  and  unalterable 
love.  Eternity  will  unfold  how  all^  all 
was  needed ; that  nothing  else,  nothing 
less,  could  have  done  ! If  not  now,  at 
least  then,  the  deliberate  verdict  on  a 
calm  retrospect  of  life  will  be  this, — 

“THE  WORD  OF  THE  LORD  IS  RIGHT,  AND  ALL  HIS 
WORKS  ARE  DONE  IN  TBUTH.” 


20 


THE  WOKBS  OK  JESUS. 


6th  Day. 


“ Kemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”- 

**  Herein  is  my  Father  glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruiV'^ 
— John  XV.  8. 


When  surveying  the 
boundless  ocean  of  cove- 
nant mercy — every  wave 


chiming,  God  is  Love  !” — does  the 
thought  ever  present  itself,  What 
can  I do  for  this  great  Being  who  hath 
done  so  much  for  me  ? Recompence 
I cannot ! No  more  can  my  purest 
services  add  one  iota  to  His  underived 
glory,  than  the  tiny  taper  can  add  to  the 
blaze  of  the  sun  at  noonday,  or  a drop 
of  water  to  the  boundless  ocean.  Yet, 
wondrous  thought ! from  this  worthless 
soul  of  mine  there  may  roll  in  a revenue 
of  glory  which  He  who  loves  the  bro- 
ken and  contrite  spirit  will  not  de- 
spise.’’ Herein  is  my  Father  glor  ified^ 
that  ye  hear  much  fruits 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


21 


Reader ! are  you  a fruit-bearer  iu 
your  Lord’s  vineyard  ? Are  you  seek- 
ing to  make  life  one  grand  act  of  con- 
secration to  His  glory — one  thank- 
offering  for  His  unmerited  love.  You 
may  be  unable  to  exhibit  much  fruit  in 
the  eye  of  the  world.  Your  circum- 
stances and  position  in  life  may  forbid 
you  to  point  to  any  splendid  services, 
or  laborious  and  imposing  efforts  in  the 
cause  of  God.  It  matters  not.  It  is 
often  those  fruits  that  are  unseen  and 
unknown  to  man,  ripening  in  seclusion, 
that  He  values  most ; — ^the  quiet,  lowly 
walk— patience  and  submission-gentle- 
ness and  humility— putting  yourself  un- 
reservedly in  His  hands — willing  to  be 
led  by  Him  even  in  darkness — saying, 
Hot  my  will,  but  Thy  will : — the  un- 
selfish spirit,  tlie  meek  bearing  of  an 
injury,  the  unostentatious  kindness, — 
these  are  some  of  the  fruits  ” which 
your  Heavenly  Father  loves,  and  by 
which  He  is  glorified. 


22 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


Percliaiice  it  may  be  witli  you  the 
season  of  trial,  the  chamber  of  pro- 
tracted sickness,  the  time  of  desolating 
bereavement,  some  furnace  seven  times 
heated.  Herein,  too,  you  may  sweetly 
glorify  your  God.  Never  is  your 
Heavenly  Father  more  glorified  by  His 
children  on  earth,  than  when,  in  the 
midst  of  these  furnace-fires.  He  listens 
to  nothing  but  the  gentle  breathings  of 
confiding  faith  and  love, — Let  Him 
do  what  seemeth  good  unto  Him.’’ 
Yes,  you  can  there  glorify  Him  in  a 
way  which  angels  cannot  do  in  a world 
where  no  trial  is.  They  can  glorify 
God  only  with  the  crowns  you  can 
glorify  Him  with  the  cross  and  the  pros- 
pect of  the  crown  together ! Ah,  if  He 
be  dealing  severely  with  you — if  He, 
as  the  great  Husbandman,  be  pruning 
His  vines,  lopping  their  boughs,  strip- 
ping off  their  luxuriant  branches  and 
beautiful  rods  !”  remember  the  end ! 
‘ He  purgeth  it,  that  it  may  bring 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  23 

forth  more  fruit,”  and  Herein  is  my 
Father  glorified  !” 

Be  it  yours  to  lie  passive  in.  His 
hands,  saying  in  unmurmuring  resig- 
nation, Father,  glorify  Thy  name! 
Glorify  Thyself,  whether  by  giving  or 
taking,  filling  my  cup  or  emptying  me 
from  vessel  to  vessel !”  Let  me  know 
no  will  but  Thine.  Angels  possess  no 
higher  honour  and  privi  «?ge  than  glori- 
fying the  God  before  whom  they  cast 
their  crowns.  How  blessed  to  be  able 
thus  to  claim  brotherhood  with  the 
spirits  in  the  upj)er  sanctuary!  nay, 
more,  to  be  associated  with  the  Saviour 
Himself  in  the  theme  of  His  own  ex- 
alted joy,  when  he  said,  ^^/have  glori- ' 
fied  Thee  on  earth  !” 


THESE  THINGS  HAVE  I SPOKEN  UNTO  YOU,  THAT  MY  JOY 
MIGHT  REMAIN  IN  YOU,  AND  THAT  YOUR  JOY 
MIGHT  BE  FULL.” 


24 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


6th  DA7. 

“Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ The  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered.” — 
Matt.  X.  30. 

What  a word  ’’  is  this  ! 
All  that  befals  you,  to  the 
yery  nninbering  of  your 
hairs,  is  known  to  God ! Nothing  can 
happen  by  accident  or  chance.  No- 
thing can  elude  His  inspection.  The 
fall  of  the  forest  leaf — the  fluttering  of 
the  insect — the  waving  of  the  angel’s 
wing — the  annihilation  of  a world, — all 
are  equally  noted  by  Him.  Man  speaks 
of  great  things  and  small  things — God 
knows  no  such  distinction. 

How  especially  comforting  to  think 
of  this  tender  solicitude  with  reference 
to  his  own  covenant  people — that  He 
metes  out  their  joys  and  their  sorrows ! 
Every  sweet,  every  bitter  is  ordained 
by  Him.  Even  “ wearisome  nights  ” 
are  ap'pointedP  Not  a pang  I feel. 


€\}t 

InliiMe. 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


25 


not  a tear  I shed  but  is  known  to  Him. 
What  are  called  dark  dealings  ’’  are 
the  ordinations  of  nndeviating  faithful- 
ness. Man  may  err — ^his  ways  are 
often  crooked  ; but  as  for  God,  His 
way  is  perfect !”  He  puts  my  tears 
into  His  bottle.  Every  moment  the 
everlasting  arms  are  underneath  and 
around  me.  He  keeps  me  as  the 
apple  of  His  eye.”  He  bears  ” me 
as  a man  beareth  his  own  son !” 

Do  I look  to  the  future  ? Is  there 
much  of  uncertainty  and  mystery  hang- 
ing over  it?  It  may  be,  much  pre- 
monitory of  evil.  Trust  Him.  All  is 
marked  out  for  me.  Dangers  will  be 
averted  ; bewildering  mazes  will  show 
themselves  to  be  interlaced  and  inter- 
weaved  with  mercy.  He  keepeth  the 
feet  of  His  saints.”  A hair  of  their 
head  will  not  be  touched.  He  leads 
sometimes  darkly,  sometimes  sorrow- 
fully ; most  frequently  by  cross  and 
circuitous  ways  we  ourselves  would  not 
.a 


26  THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 

have  chosen ; but  always  wisely,  al- 
ways tenderly.  With  all  its  mazy 
windings  and  turnings,  its  roughness 
and  ruggedness,  the  believer’s  is  not 
only  a right  way,  but  the  right  way — 
the  best  which  covenant  love  and  wis- 
dom could  select.  IsTothiug,”  says 
Jeremy  Taylor,  does  so  establish  the 
mind  amidst  the  rollings  and  turbulence 
of  present  things,  as  both  a look  above 
them  and  a look  beyond  them  ; above 
them,  to  the  steady  and  good  hand  by 
which  they  are  ruled;  and  beyond  them, 
to  the  sweet  and  beautiful  end  to  which, 
by  that  hand,  they  will  be  brought.” 

The  Great  Counsellor,”  says  Thomas 
BrookS;,  puts  clouds  and  darkness 
round  about  Him,  bidding  us  follow  at 
His  beck  through  the  cloud,  promising 
an  eternal  and  uninterrupted  sunshine 
on  the  other  side.”  On  that  ^^other  side” 
we  shall  see  how  every  apparent  rough 
blast  has  been  hastening  our  barks 
nearer  the  desired  haven. 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


27 


Well  may  I commit  the  keeping  of 
my  soul  to  Jesns  in  well-doing,  as  nnto 
a faithful  Creator.  He  gave  Himself 
for  me.  This  transcendent  pledge  of 
love  is  the  guarantee  for  the  bestow- 
ment  of  every  other  needed  blessing. 
Oh,  blessed  thought  ! my  sorrow»s 
numbered  by  the  Man  of  Sorrows ; my 
tears  counted  by  Him  who  shed  first 
His  tears  and  then  His  blood  for  me. 
He  will  impose  no  needless  burden,  and 
exact  no  unnecessary  sacrifice.  There 
was  no  redundant  drop  in  the  cup  of 
His  own  sufferings ; neither  will  there 
be  in  that  of  His  people.  Though 
He  slay  me,  yet  will  I trust  in  Him.” 

WHEREFORE  COXTFORT  ONE  ANOTHER  WITH 

THESE  WORDS.” 


28 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


7th  Dat, 


“Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  Ho 
said”— 

“ I am  the  good  shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep,  and  am 
known  of  mine.” — John  x.  14. 


“ The  Good  Sliepherd  ” 
— well  can  the  sheep  who 
know  His  voice  attest  the 


truthfulness  and  faithfulness  of  this  en- 
dearing name  and  word.  Where  would 
they  have  been  through  eternity,  had 
He  not  left  His  throne  of  light  and 
glory,  travelling  down  to  this  dark  val- 
ley of  the  curse,  and  giving  His  life  a 
ransom  for  many  ? Think  of  His  love 
to  each  separate  member  of  the  flock — 
wandering  over  pathless  wilds  with 
unwearied  patience  and  unquenchable 
ardour,  ceasing  not  the  pursuit  until  He 
flnds  it.  Think  of  His  love  now — “ I 
AM  the  Good  Shepherd.”  Still  that 
tender  eye  of  watchfulness  following  the 
guilty  wanderers — the  glories  of  heaven 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


29 


and  the  songs  of  angels  unable  to  dim 
or  alter  His  affection ; — the  music  of 
the  words,  at  this  moment  coming  as 
sweetly  from  His  lips  as  when  first  He 
uttered  them — “ I know  my  sheep.” 
Every  individual  believer — the  weak- 
est, the  weariest,  the  faintest — claims 
His  attention.  His  loving  eye  follows 
me  day  by  day  out  to  the  wilderness — 
marks  out  my  pasture,  studies  my 
wants,  and  trials,  and  sorrows,  and  per- 
plexities— every  steep  ascent,  every 
brook,every  winding  path,every  thorny 
thicket.  He  goeth  before  them.”  It 
is  not  rough  driving,but  gentle  guiding. 
He  does  not  take  them  over  an  un- 
known road ; He  himself  has  trodden  it 
before.  He  hath  drunk  of  every  ‘‘  brook 
by  the  way  ;”  He  himself  hath  “ suf- 
fered being  tempted ;”  He  is  able  to 
succour  them  that  are  tempted.”  He 
seems  to  say,  Fear  not ; I cannot  lead 
you  wrong ; follow  me  in  the  bleak 
waste,  the  blackened  wilderness,  as  well 


30 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS 


as  by  the  green  pastures  and  the  still 
waters.  Do  yon  ask  why  I have  left 
the  snnny  side  of  the  valley — carpeted 
with  flowers,  and  bathed  in  sunshine 
— leading  you  to  some  high  mountain 
apart,  some  cheerless  spot  of  sorrow  ? 
Trust  me,  I will  lead  you  by  paths 
you  have  not  known,  but  they  are  all 
known  to  me,  and  selected  hy  me — 
^ Follow  thou  me.’  ” 

^^And  am  known  of  mine!”  Reader! 
canst  thou  subscribe  to  these  closing 
words  of  this  gracious  utterance  ? Dost 
thou  know  ” Him  in  all  the  glories  of 
His  person,  in  all  the  completeness  of 
His  finished  work,  in  all  the  tenderness 
and  unutterable  love  of  His  every  deal- 
ing toward  thee  ? 

It  has  been  remarked  by  Palestine 
travellers,  that  not  only  do  the  sheep 
there  follow  the  guiding  shepherd,  but 
even  while  cropping  the  herbage  as 
they  go  along,  they  look  wistfully  up 
to  see  that  they  are  near  him.  Is  this 


TUE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


31 


thine  attitude — Hoohing  unto  Jesus 
‘‘  In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  Him, 
and  he  will  direct  thy  paths.’’  Leave 
the  future  to  his  providing.  “The 
Lord  is  my  Shepherd ; I shall  not 
want.”  I shall  not  want ! — it  has  been 
beautifully  called  the  bleating  of 
Messiah’s  sheep.”  Take  it  as  thy 
watchword  during  thy  wilderness  wan- 
derings, till  grace  be  perfected  in  glory. 
Let  this  be  the  record  of  thy  simple 
faith  and  unwavering  trust,  “ These 
are  they  viiho  follow^  whithersoever  He 
sees  meet  to  guide  them.” 


THE  SHEEP  FOLLOW  KIM,  FOR  THEY  KNOW  BIS  VOICE,” 


32 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


8th  Dat. 

Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said 


“ And  I will  pray  the  Father,  and  He  shall  give  you  an- 
other Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you  for  ever.” — 
John  xiv.  16, 


CmntnrtBr^  heart  is  drawn 

out  towards  those  that  remain  ! Jesus 
was  now  about  to  leave  His  sorrowing 
disciples.  He  directs  them  to  one  whose 
presence  would  fill  up  the  vast  blank 
His  own  absence  was  to  make.  His 
name  was.  The  Comforter^  His  mission 
was,  “ to  abide  with  them  for  ever.” 
Accordingly,  no  sooner  had  the  gates 
of  heaven  closed  on  their  ascended 
Lord,  than,  in  fulfilment  of  His  own 
gracious  promise,  the  bereaved  and 
orphaned  Church  was  baptized  with 
Pentecostal  fire.  When  I depart  I 
will  send  Him  unto  voii.” 


thp:  wokds  of  jesus. 


33 


Reader, .do  you  realize  your  privilege 
— ^living  under  the  dispensation  of  the 
Spirit  ? Is  it  your  daily  prayer  that 
He  may  come  down  in  all  the  pleni- 
tude of  His  heavenly  graces  on  your 
soul, even  ^^as  rain  upon  the  mown  grass, 
and  showers  that  water  the  earth?’’ 
You  cannot  live  without  Him  ; there 
can  be  not  one  heavenly  aspiration,  not 
one  breathing  of  love,  not  one  upward 
glance  of  faith,  without  His  gracious 
influences.  Apart  from  him,  there  is 
no  preciousness  in  the  Word,  no  bless- 
ing in  ordinances,  no  permanent  sancti- 
fying results  in  affliction.  As  the  angel 
directed  Hagar  to  the  hidden  spring, 
this  blessed  agent,  true  to  His  name 
and  offlce,  directs  His  people  to  the 
waters  of  comfort,  giving  new  glory  to 
the  promises,  investing  the  Saviour’s 
character  and  work  with  new  loveliness 
and  beauty. 

How  precious  is  the  title  which  this 
Word  of  Jesus  ” gives  Him — The 


34 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


Comforter  ! Wliat  a word  for  a sor- 
rovring  world  ! The  Church  militant 
has  its  tent  pitched  in  a “ valley  of 
tears^  The  name  of  the  divine  visi- 
tant who  comes  to  her  and  ministers 
to  her  wants,  is  Comforter.  Wide  is 
the  family  of  the  afflicted,  hut  He  has 
a healing  balm  for  all — the  weak,  the 
tempted,  the  sick,  the  sorrowing,  the 
bereaved,  the  dying  ! How  different 
from  other‘s  sons  of  consolation!”  Hu- 
man friends— dL  look  may  alienate ; 
adversity  may  estrange ; death  must 
separate!  The  ^‘Word  of  Jesus” 
speaks  of  One  whose  attribute  and  pre- 
rogative is  to  abide  with  us  for  ever ;” 
superior  to  all  vicissitudes — surviving 
death  itself ! 

And  surely,  if  anything  else  can 
endear  His  mission  of  love  to  His 
Church,  it  is  that  He  comes  direct  from 
God,  as  the  fruit  and  gift  of  Jesus^  in- 
tercession— I will  pray  the  Father.” 
Tliis  holy  dove  of  peace  and  comfort  is 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS.  35 

let  out  by  tbe  band  of  Jesus  from  tbe 
ark  of  covenant  mercy  within  the  veil ! 
Nor  is  the  gift  more  glorious  than  it  is 
free.  Does  the  word,  the  look,  of  a suf- 
fering child  get  the  eye  and  the  heart 
of  an  earthly  father  ? ^^If  ye  then,  be- 
ing evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
unto  your  children,  how  much  more 
shall  your  Father  in  heaven  give  the 
Holy  Spirit  unto  them  that  ask  Him 
It  is  He  who  makes  these  words  of 
Jesus  ’’  winged  words.’’ 


HE  SHALL  BEING  ALL  THINGS  TO  TOUR  REM£H> 
BRANCE,  WHATSOEVER  I HAVE  SAID 


36 


THE  •WORDS  OK  JESUS. 


9th  Day. 

“Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

**  Neither  do  I condemn  thee  ; go  and  sin  no  more.”— John 
viii.  11. 


Ho'vv  much  more  tender 
«l|t  to  llM  than  the  tender. 

13Eruiri,  Qf  earthly  friends  ? 

The  Apostles,  in  a moment  of  irritation 
would  have  called  down  fire  from 
heaven  on  obstinate  sinners.  Their 
Master  rebuked  the  unkind  suggestion. 
Peter,  the  trusted  but  treacherous  dis- 
ciple, expected  nothing  but  harsh  and 
merited  reproof  for  faithlessness.  He 
who  knew  well  how  the  heart  would 
be  bowed  with  penitential  sorrow,  sends 
first  the  kindest  of  messages,  and  then 
the  gentlest  of  rebukes,  Lovest  thou 
me  The  watchmen  in  the  Canticles 
smote  the  bride,  tore  off  her  veil,  and 
loaded  her  with  reproaches.  "When  she 
found  her  lost  Lord,  there  was  not  one 


THE  AVORHS  OF  JESUS. 


37 


word  of  upbraiding  ! So  slow  is  He 
to  anger/’  says  an  illustrious  believer, 
so  ready  to  forgive,  that  when  His 
prophets  lost  all  patience  with  the  peo- 
ple so  as  to  make  intercession  against 
them,  yet  even  then  could  He  not  be 
got  to  cast  off  this  people  whom  He 
foreknew,  for  his  great  name’s  sake.” 

The  guilty  sinner  to  whom  he  speaks 
this  comforting  word,”  Avas  frowned 
upon  by  her  accusers.  But,  if  others 
spurned  her  from  their  presence,  Nei- 
ther do  I condemn  tlieeP  Well  it  is  to 
fall  into  the  hands  of  this  blessed  Sav- 
iour-God, for  great  are  His  mercies. 

Are  we  to  infer  from  this,  that  He 
winks  at  sin  ? Far  from  it.  His  blood. 
His  work-— Bethlehem,  and  Cavalry,  re- 
fute he  thought ! Ere  the  guilt  even 
of  one  solitary  soul  could  be  washed  out. 
He  had  to  descend  from  His  everlasting 
throne  to  agonise  on  the  accursed  tree. 
But  this  Avord  of  Jesus”  is  a word  of 
tender  encouragement  to  every  sincere, 
4 


38 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


broken-hearted  penitent,  that  crimson 
sins,  and  scarlet  sins,  are  no  barriers 
to  a free,  full,  everlasting  forgiveness. 
The  Israelite  of  old,  gasping  in  his 
agony  in  the  sands  of  the  wilderness, 
had  but  to  ^Hook  and  live  and  still 
does  He  say,  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye 
saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth.”  Up- 
reared  by  the  side  of  his  own  cross 
there  was  a monumental  column  for  all 
Time,  only  second  to  itself  in  wonder. 
Over  the  head  of  the  dying  felon  is  the 
superscription  written  for  despairing 
guilt  and  trembling  penitence,  This 
is  a faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all 
acceptation,  that  Jesus  Christ  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners.”  “ He 
never  yet,”  says  Charnock,  put  out  a 
dim  candle  that  was  lighted  at  the  Sun 
of  Righteousness.”  ^‘Whatever  our 
guiltiness  be,”  says  Rutherford,  yet 
when  it  falleth  into  the  sea  of  God’s 
mercy,  it  is  but  like  a drop  of  blood 
fallen  into  the  great  ocean.” 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


39 


Reader,  you  may  be  the  chief  of  sin- 
ners, or  it  may  be  the  chief  of  back- 
sliders ; your  soul  may  have  started 
aside  like  a broken  bow.  As  the  bank- 
rupt is  afraid  to  look  into  his  books, 
you  may  be  afraid  to  look  into  your 
own  heart.  You  are  hovering  on  the 
verge  of  despair.  Conscience,  and  the 
memory  of  unnumbered  sins,  is  uttering 
the  desponding  verdict,  “ I condemn 
thee.”  Jesus  has  a kinder  word — a 
more  cheering  declaration — 1 con- 
demn thee  not ; go,  and  sin  no  more !” 

“and  all  wondered  at  the  gracious  words 

THAT  PROCEEDED  OUT  OF  HIS  MOUTH.” 


40 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESrS. 


10th  Pay. 

“ Remem'ber  tlie  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ Whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  my  sister,  and 
mother.” — Matt.  xii.  50. 


, , . , . ly  type  were  enough 

|\El(ltinn5lji|I^  image  forth  the  love 
of  Jesus,  He  assembles  into  one  verse 
a group  of  the  tenderest  earthly  rela- 
tionships. Human  affection  has  to 
focns  its  loveliest  hues,  but  all  is  too 
little  to  afford  an  exponent  of  the 
depth  and  intensity  of  His.  ‘‘  As  one 
whom  his  mother  comforteth  my 
sister^  my  sjpouseP  He  is 
‘‘  Brother Friend  ’’ — all  in  one  ; 
cleaving  closer  than  any  brother.” 
And  can  we  wonder  at  such  lan- 
guage ? It  is  merely  figurative,  ex- 
pressive of  more  than  the  reality? — He 
gave  Himself  ior  us ; after  that  pledge 
of  His  affection  we  must  cease  to  mar- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESJS. 


41 


vel  at  any  expression  of  tlie  interest  He 
feels  in  us.  Anything  he  can  say  or  do 
is  infinitely  less  than  what  He  has  done. 

Believer ! art  thou  solitary  and  deso- 
late ? Has  bereavement  severed  earth- 
ly ties  ? Has  the  grave  made  forced 
estrangements, — sundered  the  closest 
links  of  earthly  afi*ection?  In  Jesus 
thou  hast  filial  and  fraternal  love  com- 
bined ; He  is  the  Friend  of  friends, 
whose  presence  and  fellowship  com- 
pensates for  all  losses,  and  supplies 
all  blanks  ; He  setteth  the  solitary 
in  families.”  If  thou  art  orphaned, 
friendless,  comfortless  here,  remember 
there  is  in  the  Elder  Brother  on  the 
Throne  a love  deep  as  the  unfathomed 
ocean,  boundless  as  Eternity  ? 

And  who  are  those  who  can  claim 
the  blessedness  spoken  of  under  this 
wondrous  imagery?  On  whom  does 
He  lavish  this  unutterable  affection  ? 
No  outward  profession  will  purchase  it. 
No  church,  no  priest,  no  ordinances,  no 

4* 


42 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


denominational  distinctions.  It  is  on 
those  who  are  possessed  of  Iwly  char- 
acters, He  that  doeth  the  will  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven !”  He  who 
reflects  the  mind  of  Jesus ; imbibes  His 
Spirit ; takes  His  Word  as  the  regula- 
tor of  his  daily  walk,  and  makes  His 
glory  the  great  end  of  his  being  ; he 
who  lives  to  God  and  with  God,  and 
for  God;  the  humble,  lowly,  Christ- 
like,  Heaven-seeking  Christian ; — ^he  it 
is  who  can  claim  as  his  own  this  won- 
drous heritage  of  love ! If  it  be  a 
worthy  object  of  ambition  to  be  loved 
by  the  good  and  the  great  on  earth, 
what  must  it  be  to  have  an  eye  of  love 
ever  beaming  upon  us  from  the  Throne, 
in  comparison  of  which  the  attachment 
here  of  brother,  sister,  kinsman,friend — 
all  combined,  pales  like  the  stars  before 
the  rising  sun  ! Though  we  are  often 
ashamed  to  call  Him  “Brother,”  “He  is 
not  ashamed  to  call  VL^hretlirenP  He 
looks  down  on  poor  worms  and  says, 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


43 


TJid  same  is  my  mother,  and  sister, 
and  brother !”  I will  write  upon 
them,”  He  says  in  another  place,  my 
new  name.”  Just  as  we  write  our 
name  on  a hook  to  tell  that  it  belongs 
to  us ; so  Jesus  would  write  His  own 
name  on  us^  the  wondrous  volumes  of 
His  grace,  that  they  may  be  read  and 
pondered  by  principalities  and  powers. 

Have  we  known  and  believed  this 
love  of  God?”  Ah,  how  poor  has 
been  the  requital ! Who  cannot  sub- 
scribe to  the  words  of  one,  whose  name 
was  in  all  the  churches, — Thy  love 
has  been  as  a shower ; the  return  but 
a dew-drop,  and  that  dew-drop  stained 
with  sin.” 

“if  a man  love  me,  he  will  keep 
MY  WORDS;  and  my  father  will  love  him,  and  wh 

WILL  COME  UNTO  HIM,  AND  MAKE  OUR  ABODE 
WITH  HIM.” 


44 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


11th  Day. 

“ Eemember  tbe  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ I will  not  leave  you  comfortless  ; I will  come  to  you.” — 
John  xiv.  18. 


€1ib 
( 

he  is  forewarned  it  is  to  be  one  of  much 
tribulation.’’  He  has  his  Marahs  as  well 
as  his  Elims — ^liis  valleys  of  Baca  as 
well  as  his  grapes  of  Eschol.  Often  is 
he  left  unbefriended  to  bear  the  brunt 
of  the  storm — ^his  gourds  fading  when 
most  needed — his  sun  going  down  while 
it  is  yet  day — ^his  happy  home  and 
happy  heart  darkened  in  a moment 
with  sorrows  with  which  a stranger 
(with  which  often  a ’brother^  cannot 
intermeddle.  There  is  One  Brother 
born  for  adversity,”  who  can.  How 
often  has  that  voice  broken  with  its 
silvery  accents  the  muffled  stillness  of 


SGrfriraliBli 
)r|i  linns. 


Does  the  Christian’s 
path  lie  all  the  way 
through  Beulah?  Nay, 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


45 


the  sick-chamber  or  death-chamber! 

^Zwill  not  leave  yon  comfortless the 
w^orldmay,  friends  may^  the  desolations 
of  bereavement  and  death  may  •j  but 
I will  not  / yoni  will  be  alone,  yet  not 
alone,  for  I your  Saviour  and  your  God 
will  be  with  you 

Jesus  seems  to  have  an  especial  love 
and  affection  for  His  orphaned  and 
comfortless  people.  A father  loves  his 
sick  and  sorrowing  child  most ; of  all 
his  household,  he  occupies  most  of  his 
thoughts.  Christ  seems  to  delight  to 
lavish  His  deepest  sympathy  on  him 
that  hath  no  helper.’’  It  is  in  the  hour 
of  sorrow  His  people  have  found  Him 
most  precious ; it  is  in  the  wilderness” 
He  speaks  most  comfortably  unto 
them He  gives  them  “their  vineyards 
fi’om  thence:”  in  the  places  they  least 
expected,  wells  of  heavenly  consolation 
break  forth  at  their  feet.  As  J onathan 
of  old,  when  faint  and  weary,  had  his 
strength  revived  l)y  tlie  honey  he  found 


46 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


dropping  in  the  tangled  thicket : so  the 
faint  and  woe-worn  children  of  God 
find  honey  in  the  wood  ’’ — everiast- 
ing  consolation  dropping  from  the  tree 
of  life,  in  the  midst  of  the  thorniest 
thickets  of  affliction. 

Comfortless  ones,  be  comforted ! 
Jesns  often  makes  jouportionless^iQYQ^ 
to  drive  yon  to  Himself,  the  everlasting 
'portion.  He  often  dries  every  rill  and 
fountain  of  earthly  bliss,  that  He  may 
lead  yon  to  say,  All  my  springs  are 
in  Thee.”  ^^He  seems  intent,”  says 
one  who  could  speak  from  experience, 
to  fill  up  everj  gap  love  has  been 
forced  to  make;  one  of  his  errands  from 
heaven  was  to  bind  up  the  broken- 
hearted.” How  beautifully  in  one 
amazing  verse  does  he  conjoin  the 
depth  and  tenderness  of  his  comfort 
with  the  certainty  of  it — ‘^As  one  whom 
his  mother  comforteth,  so  will  I comfort 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  comforted !” 

Ah,  how  many  would  not  have  their 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


47 


wildemess-state  altered,  with  all  its 
trials,  and  gloom,  and  sorrow,  just  that 
they  might  enjoy  the  unutterable  sym- 
pathy and  love  of  this  Comforter  of  the 
comfortless,  one  ray  of  whose  approving 
smile  can  dispel  the  deepest  earthly 
gloom  ? As  the  clustering  constella- 
tions shine  with  intensest  lustre  in  the 
midnight  sky,  so  these  words  of 
Jesus  ” come  out  like  ministering  an- 
gels in  the  deep  dark  night  of  earthly 
sorrow.  We  may  see  no  beauty  in 
them  when  the  world  is  sunny  and 
bright ; but  He  has  laid  them  up  in 
store  for  us  in  the  dark  and  cloudy 
day.’’ 

“ IfflESE  THINGS  HAVE  1 TOLD  YOU,  THAT  -WHEN  THE  TIMS 
GOMKTH,  YE  MAY  REMEMBER  THAT  I TOLD 
YOU  OF  THEM.” 


48 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


12th  Day, 

“ Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  bow  He 
said”- 

“ In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation  ; but  be  of  good 
cheer ; I have  overcome  the  world.”— John  xvi.  33. 

«lj(  mnrBi 

^ \ ^ world  already  conquer- 

(fynniltimir.  ^d?  The  Almighty  Vic- 
tor, within  view  of  His  Crown,  turns 
round  to  His  faint  and  weary  soldiers, 
and  bids  them  take  courage.  They 
are  not  fighting  their  way  through 
untried  enemies.  The  God-man  Medi- 
ator their  sorrows.’’  He  was 

in  tempted.”  ^^Both  He  (i. 

Christ)  who  sanctifieth,  and  they  (His 
people)  who  are  sanctified,  are  all  of 
one  (nature).”  As  the  great  Precursor, 
he  heads  the  pilgrim  band,  saying  I 
will  show  you  the  path  of  life.”  Tlie 
way  to  heaven  is  consecrated  by  His 
footprints.  Every  thorn  that  wounds 
them>^  has  wounded  Him  before.  Every 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


49 


cross  they  can  bear,  he  has  borne  be- 
fore. Every  tear  they  shed,  He  has 
shed  before.  There  is  one  respect,  in- 
deed, in  which  the  identity  fails, — He 
was  ^^yet  without  sin;’’  but  this  recoil 
of  His  Holy  nature  from  moral  evil 
gives  Him  a deeper  and  intenser  sensi- 
bility towards  those  who  have  still  cor- 
ruption within  responding  to  tempta- 
tion without. 

Reader  ! are  you  ready  to  faint  un- 
der your  tribulations  ? Is  it  a seducing 
world — a wandering,  wayward  heart  ? 
‘‘  Consider  Sim,  that  endured ! ” Listen 
to  your  adorable  Redeemer,  stooping 
from  His  Throne,  and  saying,  ^^Zhave 
overcome  the  world.”  He  came  forth 
unscathed  from  its  snares.  With  the 
same  heavenly  weapon  He  bids  you 
wield,  three  times  did  he  repel  the 
Tempter,  saying,  ‘^It  is  written.” — Is 
it  some  crushing  trial,  or  overwhelming 
grief?  He  is  acquainted  grief T 

He,  the  mighty  Yine,  knows  the  mi- 


50 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


nutest  fibres  of  sorrow  in  the  branches ; 
when  the  pruning  knife  touches 
it  touches  He  has  gone/’  says 

a tried  sufferer,  through  every  class 
in  our  wilderness  school.”  He  loves  to 
bring  His  people  into  untried  and  per- 
plexing places,  that  they  may  seek  out 
the  guiding  pillar,  and  prize  its  radi- 
ance. He  puts  them  on  the  darkening 
waves,  that  they  may  follow  the  guid- 
ing light  hung  out  astern  from  the  only 
Bark  of  pure  and  unsullied  Humanity 
that  was  ever  proof  against  the  storm. 

Be  assured  there  is  disguised  love  in 
all  He  does.  He  who  knows  us  infinite- 
ly better  than  we  know  ourselves,  often 
puts  a thorn  in  our  nest  to  drive  us  to 
the  wing,  that  we  may  not  be  grovel- 
lers forever.  It  is,”  says  Evans, 
^^upon  the  smooth  ice  we  slip,  the 
rough  path  is  safest  for  the  feet.”  The 
tearless  and  undimmed  eye  is  not  to 
be  coveted  here  * that  is  reserved  for 
heaven !” 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


53 


That  kingdom  is  the  believer’s  by 
irreversible  and  inalienable  charter- 
right — I appoint  nntoyou  ” (by  cove- 
nant), says  Jesus  in  another  place, 
“a  kingdom,  as  my  Father  hath  ap- 
pointed unto  me.”  It  is  as  sure  as 
everlasting  love  and  almighty  power 
can  make  it.  Satan,  the  great  foe  of 
the  kingdom,  may  be  injecting  foul 
misgivings,  and  doubts,  and  fears  as  to 
your  security  ; but  he  cannot  denude 
you  of  your  purchased  immunities.  He 
must  first  pluck  the  crownfrom  the  Brow 
upon  the  Throne,  before  he  can  weaken 
or  impair  this  sure  word  of  promise. 
If  “ it  pleased  the  Lord  ” to  hruise  the 
Shepherd,  it  will  surely  please  Him  to 
make  happy  the  purchased  flock.  If  He 
smote  ” His  Fellow”  when  the  sheep 
were  scattered,  surely  it  will  rejoice 
Him,  for  the  Shepherd’s  sake,  to  turn 
His  hand  upon  the  little  ones.” 

Believers,  think  of  this  ! “ It  is  your 
Fathers  good  pleasure.”  The  Good 


64 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUB. 


Stieplierd,  in  leading  yon  across  the  in- 
tervening mountains,  shows  you  signals 
and  memorials  of  paternal  grace  stud- 
ding all  the  way.  He  may  lead  you 
about  ’’  in  your  way  thither.  He  led  the 
children  of  Israel  of  old  out  of  Egypt 
to  their,  promised  kingdom, — how?  By 
forty  years’  wilderness  discipline  and 
privations.  But  trust  Him ; dishonour 
Him  not  with  guilty  doubts  and  fears. 
Look  not  back  on  your  dark,  stumbling 
paths,  nor  within  on  your  fitful  and 
vacillating  heart  ; but  forwards  to  the 
land  that  is  far  off*.  How  earnestly 
God  desires  your  salvation  ! What  a 
heaping  together  of  similar  tender 
“ words  ” with  that  which  is  here  ad- 
dressed to  us  ? The  Gospel  seems  like 
a palace  full  of  opened  windows,  from 
each  of  which  He  issues  an  invitation, 
declaring  that  He  has  no  pleasure  in 
our  death — ^but  rather  that  we  would 
turn  and  live ! 

Let  the  melody  of  the  Shepherd’s 


TilE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS.  55 

reed  fall  gently  on  yonr  ear, — It  is 
your  Father’s  good  pleasure.”  I have 
given  you,  He  seems  to  say,  the  best 
proof  that  it  is  mine.  In  order  to  pur- 
chase that  kingdom,  I died  for  you  ! 
But  it  is  also  His:  ‘^As  a shepherd 
seeketh  out  his  flock  in  the  day  that  he 
is  among  his  sheep  that  are  scattered, 
so,”  says  God,  will  I seek  out  my 
sheep,  and  will  deliver  them  out  of  all 
places  where  they  have  been  scattered 
in  the  cloudy  and  dark  day.”  Fearnot, 
then,  little  flock  ! though  yours  for  a 
while  should  be  the  bleak  mountain 
and  sterile  waste,  seeking  your  way 
Zionward,  it  may  be  with  torn  fleeces 
and  bleeding  feet ;”  for, 


IT  IS  NOT  THE  WILL  OP  TOUR  FATHER  WHICH  IS  Ilf 
HEAVEN,  THAT  ONE  OF  THEBE  LITTLE  ONES 
SHOULD  PERISH.’* 


56 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


14th  Dat. 

“Eeineml)er  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink.” — 
John  vii.  ST. 

One  of  the  most  gra- 
cious “words”  that  ever 
“ proceeded  out  of  the 
mouth  of  God!”  Tlie  time  it  was 
uttered  was  an  impressive  one ; it  was 
on  “ the  last,  the  great  day  ” of  the 
Feast  of  Tabernacles,  when  a denser 
multitude  than  on  any  of  the  seven  pre- 
ceding ones  were  assembled  together. 
The  golden  bowl,  according  to  custom, 
had  probably  just  been  filled  with  the 
waters  of  Siloam,  and  was  being  carried 
up  to  the  Temple  amid  the  acclama- 
tions of  the  crowd,  when  the  Saviour 
of  the  world  seized  the  opportunity  of 
speaking  to  them  some  truths  of  mo- 
mentous import.  Many,  doubtless,  were 
the  “words  of  Jesus”  uttered  on  the 
previous  days,  but  the  most  important 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


57 


is  reserved  for  the  last.  What,  then,  is 
the  great  closing  theme  on  which  He 
rivets  the  attention  of  this  vast  audi- 
tory, and  which  He  would  have  them 
carry  away  to  their  distant  homes  ? It 
is.  The  freeness  of  His  own  great  salva- 
tion— ^‘If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come' 
unto  me  and  drink.” 

Header,  do  you  discredit  the  reality 
of  this  gracious  offer  ? Are  your  legion 
sins  standing  as  a barrier  between  you 
and  a Saviour’s  proffered  mercy  ? Do 
you  feel  as  if  you  cannot  come  ‘^just  as 
you  are  that  some  partial  cleansing, 
some  preparatory  reformation  must 
take  place  before  you  can  venture  to  the 
living  fountain?  Hay,  ^Hf  any  manT 
What  is  freer  than  water? — The 
poorest  beggar  may  drink  “ without 
money”  the  wayside  pool.  That  is 
your  Lord’s  own  picture  of  His  own 
glorious  salvation  ; you  are  invited  to 
come,  without  one  plea,”  in  all  your 
poverty  and  want,  your  weakness  and 


58 


THE  WORDS  OB’  JESUS. 


unworthiiiess.  Kemember  tbe  Re- 
deemer’s saying  to  tlie  woman  of  Sama- 
ria. She  was  the  chief  of  sinners — prof- 
ligate— ^hardened — degraded ; bnt  He 
made  no  condition,  no  qualification ; 
simple  Relieving  was  all  that  was  re- 
quired,— If  thou  knowest  the  gift  of 
God,”  thou  wouldsthave  asked,  and  He 
would  have  given  thee  “ living  water.” 

But  is  there  not,  after  all,  one  condi- 
tion mentioned  in  this  word  of 
Jesus?” — any  man  tliirstP  You 
may  have  the  depressing  consciousness 
that  you  experience  no  such  ardent 
longings  after  holiness, — no  feeling  of 
your  affecting  need  of  the  Saviour. 
But  is  not  this  very  conviction  of  your 
want  an  indication  of  a feeble  longing 
after  Christ?  If  you  are  saying,  ‘^I 
have  nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the 
well  is  deep,”  He  who  makes  offer  of 
the  salvation-stream  will  Himself  fill 
your  empty  vessel, — ^^He  satisfieththe 
longing  soul  with  goodness.” 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


59 


“ Jesus  stood  and  GriedP  It  is  the 
solitary  instance  recorded  of  Him  of 
whom  it  is  said,  “He  shall  not  strive 
nor  cry,’’  lifting  up  “ His  voice  in  the 
streets.”  But  it  was  truth  of  surpass- 
ing interest  and  magnitude  He  had  to 
proclaim.  It  was  a declaration,  more- 
over, specially  dear  to  him.  As  it 
formed  the  theme  of  this  ever-memora- 
ble  sermon  during  His  public  ministry, 
so  'when  He  was  sealing  up  the  inspired 
record — the  last  utterances  of  His  voice 
on  earth,  till  that  voice  shall  be  heard 
again  on  the  throne,  contained  the  same 
life-giving  invitation, — “Let  him  that 
is  athirst  come,  and  whosoever  will,  let 
him  take  of  the  water  of  life  freely.” 
Oh ! as  the  echoes  of  that  gracious  say- 
ing— this  blast  of  the  silver  trumpet — 
are  still  sounding  to  the  ends  of  the 
world,  may  this  be  the  recorded  result. 


AS  HE  SPAKE  THESE  WORDS,  MANY  BELIEVED  ON 
HIM  ” 


60 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESTTS. 


15th  Day. 

**  Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

My  yoke  is  easy,  and  my  burden  is  light.'’— Matt.  xi.  80. 


CAifr  the  same  be  said  of 


Satan,  or  sin?  With  re- 


€1ib  Sntiful 

gard  to  them,  liow  faith- 
fully  true  rather  is  the  converse — ‘hny 
yoke  is  heavy ^ and  my  burden  is  griev- 
ous /’’  Christ’s  service  is  a happy  ser- 
vice, the  only  happy  one ; and  even 
when  there  is  a cross  to  carry,  or  a 
yoke  to  bear,  it  is  His  own  appoint- 
ment. My  yoke.”  It  is  sent  by  no 
untried  friend.  Nay,  He  who  puts  it 
on  His  people,  bore  this  very  yoke 
Himself.  He  carried  our  sorrows,” 
How  blessed  this  feeling  of  holy  servi- 
tude to  so  kind  a Master!  not  like 
^^dumb,  driven  cattle,”  goaded  on,  but 
led^  and  led  often  most  tenderly  when 
the  yoke  and  the  burden  are  upon  us. 
The  great  apostle  rarely  speaks  of  him- 


THE  WOEDS  OP  JESUS. 


63 


Tried  believer,  has  He  ever  failed 
thee  ? Has  His  yoke  been  too  griev- 
ous ? Have  thy  tears  been  unalleviated 
— thy  sorrows  unsolaced — thy  tempta- 
tions above  that  thou  wert  able  to  bear? 
Ah ! rather  canst  thou  not  testify,  ^^The 
word  of  the  Lord  is  tried I cast 
my  burden  upon  Him,  and  He  “ sus- 
tained me  How  have  seeming  diffi- 
culties melted  away  ! How  has  the 
yoke  lost  its  heaviness,  and  the  cross 
its  bitterness,  in  the  thought  of  whom 
thou  wert  bearing  it  for ! There  is  a 
promised  rest  in  the  very  carrying 
of  the  yoke ; and  a better  rest  remains 
for  the  weary  and  toil-worn  when  the 
appointed  work  is  finished ; for  thus 
saith  “ that  same  Jesus,” 

“take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  me,  . . . 

AND  YE  SHALL  FIND  REST  UNTO  YOUR  SOULS.** 


64 


THE  WORDS  OE  JESUS. 


16th  Day. 

“ Eemember  tlie  words  of  the  lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said’^- 

**  As  the  Father  hath  loved  me,  so  have  I loved  you.”— 
John  XV.  9. 


‘ f XJLX  tiic 

nt  lUt  Bible.  Who  can  sound 
the  nnimagined  depths  of  that  love 
which  dwelt  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father 
from  all  eternity  towards  His  Son  ?~ 
and  yet  here  is  the  Saviour’s  own  expo- 
nent of  His  love  towards  His  people  ! 

There  is  no  subject  more  profoundly 
mysterious  than  those  mystic  intercom- 
munings  between  the  first  and  second 
persons  in  the  adorable  Trinity  before 
the  world  was.  Scripture  gives  us  only 
some  dim  and  shadowy  revelations  re- 
garding them — distant  gleams  of  light, 
and  no  more.  Let  one  suffice.  Then 
I was  by  Him,  as  one  brought  up  with 
Him,  and  I was  daily  His  delight,  re- 
joicing always  before  Him.” 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


65 


We  know  that  earthly  affection  is 
deepened  and  intensified  by  increased 
familiarity  with  its  object.  The  friend- 
ship of  yesterday  is  not  the  sacred,  hal- 
lowed thing,  which  years  of  growing 
intercourse  have  matured.  If  we  may 
with  reverence  apply  this  test  to  the 
highest  type  of  holy  affection,  what 
must  have  been  that  interchange  of 
love  which  the  measureless  lapse  of 
Eternity  had  fostered- — a love,  more- 
over, not  fitful,  transient,  vacillating, 
subject  to  altered  tones  and  estranged 
looks — ^but  pure,  constant,  untainted, 
without  one  shadow  of  turning ! And 
yet,  listen  to  the  words  of  Jesus,” 
As  the  Father  hath  loved  me^  so  have 
I loved  you  / It  would  have  been  in- 
finitely more  than  we  had  reason  to 
expect,  if  He  had  said,  As  my  Father 
hath  loved  angels,  so  have  I loved 
you.”  But  the  love  borne  to  no  finite 
beings  is  an  appropriate  symbol.  Long 
before  the  birth  of  time  or  of  worlds, 
6* 


66 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


that  love  existed.  It  was  coeval  with 
Eternity  itself.  Hear  how  the  two 
themes  of  the  Saviour’s  eternal  rejoic- 
ing— the  love  of  His  Father^  and  His 
love  for  sinners — are  grouped  together; 
— “Eejoicing  always  before  him,  and 
in  the  habitable  part  of  His  earth 

To  complete  the  picture,  we  must 
take  in  a counterpart  description  of  the 
Father'' s love  to  us ; — ‘^Therefore 
my  Father  love  me,”  says  Jesus  in  an- 
other place,  because  I lay  down  my 
life!”  God  had  an  all-sufficiency  in  His 
love — He  needed  not  the  taper-loA^e 
of  creatures  to  add  to  His  glory  or  hap- 
piness ; but  He  seems  to  say,  that  so 
intense  is  His  love  for  us,  that  He  loves 
even  His  beloved  Son  more  (if  infinite 
love  be  capable  of  increase),  because 
He  laid  down  His  life  for  the  guilty  ! 
It  is  regarding  the  Redeemed  it  is  said, 
“ He  shall  rest  in  His  love — He  shall 
rejoice  over  them  with  singing.” 

In  the  assertion,  God  is  love,”  we 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


67 


are  left  truly  with  no  mere  unproved 
averment  regarding  the  existence  of 
some  abstract  quality  in  the  divine 
nature.  Herein,”  says  an  apostle, 
‘^perceive  we  the  love,” — (it  is  added 
in  our  authorised  version,  of  God,” 
but,  as  it  has  been  remarked,  Our 
translators  need  not  have  added  whose 
lo  ve,for  there  is  but  one  such  specimen”) 
— ‘‘because  He  laid  down  His  life  for 
us.”  Ho  expression  of  love  can  be 
wondered  at  after  this.  Ah,  how  miser- 
able are  our  best  affections  compared 
with  His ! Our  love  is  but  the  reflec- 
tion— cold  as  the  moon  ; His  is  as  the. 
Sun.”  Shall  we  refuse  to  love  Him 
more  in  return,  who  hath  first  loved, 
and  so  loved  us  ? 


NEVER  MAN  SPAKE  LIKE  THIS  MAN. 


68 


THK  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


17th  DiY. 

“ Eemember  the  words  of  tlie  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— _ 

“ Only  believe.” — Mark  v.  86. 

^ j r The  briefest  of  the  words 
of  Jesus  ” but  one  of  the 
(IPOSpBu  most  comforting.  They 
contain  the  essence  and  epitome  of  all 
saving  truth. 

Reader,  is  Satan  assailing  thee  witli 
tormenting  fears  ? Is  the  thought  of 
thj^  sins — the  guilty  past — coming  up 
in  terrible  memorial  before  thee,  al- 
most tempting  thee  to  give  way  to 
hopeless  despondency?  Fear  not ! A 
gentle  voice  whispers  in  thine  ear, — 
Only  helieveP  Thy  sins  are  great, 
but  my  grace  and  merits  are  greater. 
^ Only  believe  ’ that  I died  for  thee — 
that  I am  living  for  thee  and  pleading 
for  thee,  and  that  ^ the  faithful  saying’ 
is  as  ^ faithful  ’ as  ever,  and  as  ‘ wor- 
thy of  all  acceptation  ’ as  ever.” — Art 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS, 


69 


thou  a hacksliderf  Didst  thou  once 
run  well  ? Has  thine  own  guilty  apos- 
tacy  alienated  and  estranged  thee  from 
that  face  which  was  once  all  love,  and 
that  service  which  was  once  all  delight? 
Art  thou  breathing  in  broken-hearted 
sorrow  over  the  holy  memories  of  a close 
walk  with  God — Oh  that  it  were  with 
me  as  in  months  past,  when  the  candle 
of  the  Lord  did  shine  ?’’  Only  he- 
lieveP  Take  this  thy  mournful  soli- 
loquy, and  convert  it  into  a prayer. 
^^Only  believe’’  the  word  of  Him  whose 
ways  are  not  as  man’s  ways — Eeturn, 
ye  backsliding  children,  and  I will  heal 
your  backsliding.” — Art  thou  beaten 
down  with  some  heavy  trial?  have  thy 
fondest  schemes  been  blown  upon — thy 
fairest  blossoms  been  withered  in  the 
bud?  has  wave  after  wave  been  rolling 
in  upon  thee  I hath  the  Lord  forgotten 
to  be  gracious  ? Hear  the  word  of 
Jesus  ” resounding  amidst  the  thickest 
midnight  of  gloom — penetrating  even 


70 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


tliroiigli  tlie  vaults  of  the  dead — Be- 
lieve, only  believe?'^  There  is  an  in- 
finite reason  for  the  trial — a lurking 
thorn  that  required  removal,  a gracious 
lesson  that  required  teaching.  The 
dreadful  severing  blow  was  dealt  in 
love.  God  will  be  glorified  in  it,  and 
your  own  soul  made  the  better  for  it. 
Patiently  wait  till  the  light  of  immor- 
tality be  reflected  on  a receding  world. 
Here  you  must  take  His  dealings  on 
trust.  The  word  of  Jesus  to  you  now 
is,  Only  believed  The  word  of  Jesus 
in  eternity  (every  inner  meaning  and 
undeveloped  purpose  being  unfolded). 
Said  I not  unto  thee  that  if  thou 
wouldst  but  BELIEVE,  thou  shouldst 
SEE  the  glory  of  God  — -Are  you  fear- 
ful and  agitated  in  the  prospect  of  death? 
Through  fear  of  the  last  enemy,  have 
you  been  all  your  lifetime  subject  to 
bondage  ? — Only  believe?^  As  thy 
day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.”  Dying 
grace  will  be  given  when  a dying  hour 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  71 

comes.  In  tlie  dark  river  a sustaining 
arm  will  be  nnderneatli  you,  deeper 
than  the  deepest  and  darkest  wave.  Ere 
you  know  it,  the  darkness  will  be  past, 
the  true  light  shining, — the  whisper 
of  faith  in  the  nether  valley,’’  ‘^Believe ! 
believe!”  exchanged  for  angel-voices 
exclaiming,  as  you  enter  the  portals  of 
glory,  ‘‘'No  longer  through  a glass 
darkly,  but  now  face  to  face  1” 

Yes!  Jesus  Himself  had  no  higher 
remedy  for  sin,  for  sorrow,  and  for  suf- 
fering, than  those  two  words  convey. 
At  the  utmost  extremity  of  His  own 
distress,  and  of  His  disciples’  wretched- 
ness, He  could  only  say,  ^ Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled  : ye  believe  in  God, 
believe  also  in  me.’  ^ Believe,  only  be- 
lieve.’ ” 


I.ORD,  I BELIEVE,  HELP  THOU  MINE  UNBELIEF,’ 


72 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


ISrn  Day. 

“Eememljer  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ Be  of  good  cheer ; it  is  I ; be  not  afraid.” — Mark  vi.  50. 

«ht  feo! 

^ . Sion  lias  it,  more  in  accord- 

(Hyfllni.  with  the  original),  I 

AM!  be  not  afraid!”  Jesus  lives! 
His  people  may  dispel  their  misgivings 
— Omnipotence  treads  the  waves  ! To 
sense  it  may  seem  at  times  to  be  other- 
wise; wayward  accident  and  chance 
may  appear  to  regulate  human  allot- 
ments ; but  not  so  : “ the  Lord’s  voice 
is  upon  the  waters’” — He  sits  at  the 
helm  guiding  the  tempest-tossed  bark, 
and  guiding  it  well. 

How  often  does  He  come  to  us  as  He 
did  to  the  disciples  in  that  midnight 
hour  when  all  seems  lost— ^dn  the  fourth 
watch  of  the  night,” — when  we  least 
looked  for  Him;  or  Vvdien,  like  the  ship- 
wrecked apostle,  ^^for  days  together 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


73 


neither  sun  nor  stars  appeared,  and  no 
small  tempest  lay  on  ns;  when  all 
hope  that  we  should  be  saved  seemed 
to  be  taken  away” — ^how  often  just  at 
that  moment^  is  the  word  of  Jesus” 
heard  floating  over  the  billows  ! 

Believer,  art  thou  in  trouble  ? listen 
to  the  voice  in  the  storm,  Fear  not,  1 
AM.”  That  voice,  like  Joseph’s  of  old  to 
his  brethren,  may  seemvough.,  but  there 
are  gracious  undertones  of  love.  It 
is  I,”  he  seems  to  say ; It  was  I,  that 
roused  the  storm ; It  is  I,  who  when  it 
has  done  its  work,  will  calm  it,  and 
say,  Peace,  be  still.”  Every  wave 
rolls  at  My  bidding — every  trial  is  My 
appointment — all  have  some  gracious 
end;  they  are  not  sent  to  dash  you 
against  the  sunken  rocks,  but  to  waft 
you  nearer  heaven.  Is  it  sicJmess  ? I 
am  He  who  bare  your  sickness ; the 
weary  wasted  frame,  and  the  nights  of 
languishing  were  sent  by  Me.  Is  it 
hereavement  f I am  the  Brother”  born 
n 


74 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


for  adversity — the  loved  and  lost  were 
plucked  away  by  Me.  Is  it  death  f I 
AM  the  ^^Abolisher  of  death/’  seated  by 
your  side  to  calm  the  waves  of  ebbing 
life  ; it  is  75  about  to  fetch  My  pilgrims 
home — It  is  My  voice  that  speaks. 

The  Master  is  come,  and  calleth  for 
thee.” 

Reader,  thou  wilt  have  reason  yet  to 
praise  thy  God  for  every  one  such 
storm!  This  is  the  history  of  every 
heavenly  voyager : “ 80  He  bringeth 
them  to  their  desired  haven.”  /” 
That  word,  in  all  its  unknown  and  di- 
versified meaning,  is  in  His  hand.  He 
suits  His  dealings  to  every  case.  ^^80 
Withsome  it  isthroughquiet  seas  unfret- 
ted by  one  buffeting  wave.  With 

others  it  is  “ mounting  up  to  heaven, 
and  going  down  again  to  the  deep.” 
But  whatever  be  the  leading  and  the 
discipline,  here  is  the  grand  consumma- 
tion, ^^80  He  bringeth  them  unto  their 
desired  haven.”  It  miglit  have  been 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


75 


with  thee  the  moanings  of  an  eternal 
night-blast — no  lull  or  pause  in  the 
storm ; but  soon  the  darkness  will  be 
past,  and  the  hues  of  morn  tipping  the 
shores  of  glory ! 

And  what,  then,  should  your  attitude 
be?  Looking  unto  Jesus’’  (literally, 
lookingyr^77^  unt6)\  looking  away  from 
self,  and  sin,  and  human  props  and 
refuges  and  confidences,  and  fixing  the 
eye  of  unwavering  and  unfiinching  faith 
on  a reigning  Saviour.  Ah,  how  a real 
quickening  sight  of  Christ  dispels  all 
guilty  fears  ! The  Roman  keepers  of 
old  were  affrighted,  and  became  as  dead 
men.  The  lowly  Jewish  women  feared 
not;  why?  ‘‘1  'know  that  ye  seek 
Jesus  Reader,  let  thy  weary  spirit 
fold  itself  to  rest  under  the  composing 
‘Vord”  of  a gracious  Saviour,  saying — 


I WAIT  FOR  THE  LORD,  MY  SOUL  DOTH  WAIT,  AND  IN 
HIS  WORD  DO  I HOPE.” 


76 


THE  WORDS  OP  JE8HS. 


19th  Day. 

**  Kemember  tlie  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  Ho 
said 

“Peace  I leave  with  you,  my  peace  I give  unto  you  : not  as 
the  world  giveth,  give  I unto  you.”— John  xiv.  27. 


«ht  Cninn  How  we  treasure  the  last 

rT'irnrtT  ° ^ P^' 

jLfgUtlj*  rent!  How  specially  cher- 
ished and  memorable  are  his  last.looks 
and  last  words  I Here  are  the  last 
words — ^the  parting  legacy — of  a dying 
Saviour.  It  is  a legacy  of  j^^eace. 

What  peace  is  this  ? It  is  His  own 
purchase — a peace  arising  out  of  free 
forgiveness  through  His  precious  blood. 
It  is  sung  in  concert  with  Glory  to 
God  in  the  highest” — a peace  made  as 
sure  to  us  as  eternal  power  and  infinite 
love  can  make  it  I It  is  'peace  the  soul 
wants.  Existence  is  one  long-drawn 
sigh  after  repose.  That  is  nowhere 
else  to  be  found,  but  through  the  blood 
of  His  cross  1 ^^Being  justified  by  faith, 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS.  77 

we  have  peace  with  God.”  He  giveth 
his  beloved  rest  /” 

How  different  from  the  false  and 
counterfeit  peace  in  which  so  many  are 
content  to  live,  and  content  to  die ! 
The  world’s  peace  is  all  well,  so  long  as 
prosperity  lasts — so  long  as  the  stream 
runs  smooth,  and  the  sky  is  clear ; hut 
when  the  cataract  is  at  hand,  or  the 
storm  is  gathering,  where  is  it  ? It  is 
gone  ! There  is  no  calculating  on  its 
permanency.  Often  when  the  cup  is 
fullest,there  is  the  trembling  apprehen- 
sion that  in  one  brief  moment  it  maybe 
dashed  to  the  ground.  The  soul  may 
be  saying  to  itself,  ^Teace,  peace;”  but, 
like  the  writing  on  the  sand,  it  may  be 
obliterated  by  the  first  wave  of  adver- 
sity. But,  ^^Hot  as  the  world  giveth !” 
The  peace  of  the  believer  is  deep — calm 
— lasting  — ^'y^Hasting.  The  world, 
with  all  its  blandishments,  cannot  give 
it.  The  world,  with  all  its  vicissitudes 
and  fluctuations,  cannot  take  it  away ! 


78 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


It  is  brightest  in  the  hour  of  trial; 
it  lights  up  the  final  valley-gloom. 

Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold 
the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that  man  is 
peace.”  Yes ! how  often  is  the  believ- 
er’s deathbed  like  the  deep  calm  repose 
of  a summer-evening’s  sky,  when  all 
nature  is  hushed  to  rest ; the  departing 
soul,  like  the  vanishing  sun,  peacefully 
disappearing  only  to  shine  in  another 
and  brighter  hemisphere  ! I seem,” 
said  Simeon  on  his  deathbed,  to  have 
nothing  to  do  but  to  wait : there  is  now 
nothing  but  peaee^  the  sweetest  peace. 

Believer!  do  you  know  this  peace 
which  passeth  understanding?  Is  it 

keeping  (literally,  ^ garrisoning  as  in 
a citadel’)  your  heart?”  Have  you 
learnt  the  blessedness  of  waking  up, 
morning  after  morning,  and  feeling,  I 
am  at  peace  with  my  God of  behold- 
ing by  faith  the  true  Aaron — the  great 
High  Priest — coming  forth  from  the 
holiest  of  all  ” to  bless  His  people 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


79 


with  peace?”  Waves  of  trouble  may 
be  murmuring  around  you,  but  they 
cannot  touch  you  ; you  are  in  the 
rock-crevice  athwart  which  the  fiercest 
tornado  sweeps  by.  Oh  ! leave  not  the 
making  up  of  your  peace  with  God  to 
a dying  hour ! It  will  be  a hard  thing 
to  smooth  the  death-pillow,  if  peace  be 
left  unsought  till  then.  Make  sure  of  it 
now.  He,  the  true  Melchisedec,  is  will- 
ing now  to  come  forth  to  meet  you  with 
bread  and  wine — emblems  of  peace- 
ful gospel  blessings.  All  the  ^ Vords  of 
Jesus”  are  so  many  rills  contributing 
to  make  your  peace  fiow  as  a river  ; — 
These  things  have  I spoken  unto  you, 
that  in  Me  ye  might  have  peace.” 


I WILL  HEAR  WHAT  GOI>  THE  LORD  WILL  SPEAK, 
rOR  HE  WILL  SPEAK  PEACE  UNTO  HIS  PEOPLE 
AND  TO  HIS  SAINTS.” 


80 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


20th  Day. 


**  Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 


“ All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.”— 
Matt,  xxviii.  18. 


VT  an  empire  is 
Heaven  and  eartli 


SUDESt  itHtBt  — the  Church  militant — 


the  Church  triumphant — angels  and 
archangels — saints  and  seraphs.  At 
His  mandate  the  billows  were  hushed — 
demons  crouched  in  terror — the  grave 
yielded  its  prey  ! Upon  his  head  are 
many  crowns.”  He  is  made  ^^head  over 
all  things  to  His  Church.”  Yes  ! over 
all  things^  from  the  minutest  to  the 
mightiest.  He  holds  the  stars  in  His 
right  hand : — ^he  walks  in  the  midst  of 
the  seven  golden  candlesticks,  feeding 
every  candlestick  with  the  oil  of  His 
grace,  and  preserving  every  star  in  its 
spiritual  orbit.  The  prince  of  Dark- 
ness has  ^^a  power,”  but,God  be  praised. 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


81 


it  is  not  an  all  power  potent^  but 
not  omnipotent.  Christ  holds  him  in 
a chain.  He  hath  set  bounds  that  he 
may  not  pass  over.  ^^Satan,”  we  read 
in  the  book  of  Job,  ^ Vent  ont  {Chaldee 
paraphrase.^  Vith  a licence’)  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord.”  He  was  not 
allowed  even  to  enter  the  herd  of  swine 
till  Christ  permitted  him.  He  only 
desired  ” to  have  Peter  that  he  might 
sift  him there  was  a mightier  coun- 
tervailing agency  at  hand : have 

prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not.” 

Believer,  how  often  is  there  nothing 
but  this  grace  of  Jesus  between  thee 
and  everlasting  destruction ! Satan’s 
key  fitting  the  lock  in  thy  wayward 
heart ; but  a stronger  than  the  strong 
man  barring  him  out ; — the  power  of 
the  adversary  fanning  the  fiame ; the 
Omnipotence  of  Jesus  quenching  it. 
Art  thou  even  now  feeling  the  strength 
of  thy  corruptions,  the  weakness  of  thy 
graces,  the  presence  of  some  outward  or 


82 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


inward  temptation  ? Look  np  to  Him 
who  has  promised  to  make  his  grace 
sufficient  for  thee;  all  power’’  is  His 
prerogative  ; all-sufficiency  in  all 
things”  is  His  promise.  It  is  power,  too, 
in  conjunction  with  tenderness.  He  who 
sways  the  sceptre  of  universal  empire 
gently  leads”  His  weak,  and  weary, 
and  burdened  ones  : — He  who  counts 
the  number  of  the  stars,  loves  to  count 
the  number  of  their  sorrows ; nothing 
too  great,  nothing  too  insignificant  for 
Him.  He  puts  every  tear  into  His 
bottle.  He  paves  His  people’s  path- 
way with  love ! 

Blessed  Jesus ! my  everlasting  in- 
terest cannot  be  in  better  or  in  safer 
keeping  than  in  Thine.  I can  exult- 
ingly  rely  on  the  all-power  ” of  Thy 
Godhead.  I can  sweetly  rejoice  in  the 
all-sympathy  of  Thy  Manhood.  I can 
confidently  repose  in  the  sure  wisdom  of 
Tliy  dealings.  Sometimes,”  says  one, 
‘^we  expect  the  blessings  in  way;  He 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  83 

chooses  to  bestow  it  in  HisP  But  His 
way  and  His  will  must  be  tlie  best. 
Infinite  love,  infinite  power,  infinite 
wisdom,  are  surely  infallible  guaran- 
tees. His  purposes  nothing  can  alter. 
His  promises  never  fail.  His  word 
never  falls  to  the  ground. 


HEAVEN  AND  EARTH  SHAXL  PASS  AWAY,  BUT  MY 
WORDS  SHALL  NOT  PASS  AWAY.” 


84 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


21st  Day. 

Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said’’— 

“ He  shall  glorify  me  : for  He  shall  receive  of  mine,  and 
shall  show  it  unto  you.” — John  xvi.  14. 

The  Holy  Spirit  glori- 
fying Jesus  in  the  unfold- 
ings of  His  person,  and 
character,  and  work,  to  His  people! 
The  great  ministering  agent  between 
the  Church  on  earth  and  its  glorified 
Head  in  Heaven, — carrying  up  to  the 
Intercessor  on  the  throne,  the  ever-re- 
curring wants  and  trials,  the  perplex- 
ities and  sins,  of  believers  ; and  receiv- 
ing out  of  His  inexhaustible  treasury 
of  love, — comfort  for  their  sorrows — 
strength  for  their  weakness — sympathy 
for  their  tears — fulness  for  their  empti- 
ness,— and  this  the  one  sublime  end  and 
object  of  His  gracious  agency, — ‘‘He 
shall  glorify  MeP  “ He  shall  not  speak 
of  Himself,  but  whatsoever  He  shall 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


85 


hear,  that  shall  He  speak.”  My  words 
of  sympathy-My  omnipotent  pleadings 
— the  tender  messages  sent  from  an  un- 
changed Human  Heart, — all  these  shall 
He  speak.  ^^He  shall  tell  you,”  says  an 
old  divine,  commenting  on  this  passage, 
^^He  shall  tell  you  nothing  hut  stories  of 
My  love”  {Goodwin).  He  will  have  an 
ineffable  delight  in  magnifying  Me  in 
the  affections  of  My  Church  and  people, 
and  endearing  Me  to  their  hearts ; and 
He  is  all  worthy  of  credence,  for  He  is 
the  Spirit  of  truth.” 

How  faithful  has  He  been  in  every  age 
to  this  His  great  office  as  the  glorifier 
of  Jesus  !”  See  the  first  manifestation 
of  His  power  in  the  Christian  Church 
at  the  day  of  Pentecost.  What  was 
the  grand  truth  which  forms  the  focus- 
point  of  interest  in  that  unparalleled 
scene,  and  which  brings  three  thousand 
stricken  penitents  to  their  knees  ? It 
is  theSpirifs  unfolding  of  Jesus — ^glori- 
fying Him  in  eyes  that  before  saw  in 
8 


86 


THE  WORDS  OB^  JESUS. 


Him  no  beauty  ? Hear  tbe  key-note  of 
that  wondrous  sermon,  preached  ‘‘  in 
demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  with 
power,” — ^HIim  hath  God  exalted  to  be 
a Prince  and  a Saviour,  to  give  repent- 
ance to  his  people,  and  forgiveness  of 
sins.” 

Ah  ? it  is  still  the  same  peerless  truth 
which  the  Spirit  delights  to  unfold  to 
the  stricken  sinner,  and,  in  unfolding 
it,  to  make  it  mighty  to  the  pulling 
down  of  strongholds.  All  these  glori- 
ous inner  beauties  of  Christ’s  work  and 
character  are  undiscerned  and  undis- 
cernible  by  the  natural  eye.  “ It  is  the 
Spirit  that  quickeneth.”  No  man  can 
call  J esus  Lord,but  by  the  Holy  Ghost.” 
He  is  the  great  Forerunner — a mightier 
than  the  Baptist — ^proclaiming,  Be- 
hold the  Lamb  of  God  I” 

Header ! any  bright  and  realising 
view  you  have  had  of  the  Saviour’s 
glory  and  excellency,  is  of  the  Spirit’s 
imparting.  When  in  some  hour  ofsor- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


87 


row  you  have  been  led  to  cleave  with 
pre-eminent  consolation  to  the  thought 
of  the  Kedeemer’s  exalted  sympathy — 
His  dying,  ever-living  love  ; or  in  the 
hour  of  death,  when  you  feel  the  sus- 
taining power  of  His  exceeding  great 
and  precious  promises  ; — what  is  this, 
but  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  fulfilment  of  His 
all-gracious  office,  taking  of  all  things 
of  Christ,  and  showing  them  unto  you ; 
thus  enabling  you  to  magnify  Him  in 
your  body,  whether  it  be  by  life  or 
death  ? As  your  motto  should  ever  be, 
^^None  BUT  Christ^^  and  your  ever- 
increasing  aspiration,^^J[/c?r'^  of 
seek  to  bear  in  mind  who  it  is  that 
is  alone  qualified  to  impart  the  excel- 
lency of  this  knowledge.” 


THE  SPIRIT  OP  TRUTH  WHICH  PROCEEDETH  PROM  THE 
FATHER,  HE  SHALL  TESTIFY  OP  ME.” 


88 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


22d  Day. 


“Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“Your  sorrow  shall  be  turned  into  joy.” — John  xvi.  20. 


Christ’s  people  are 
a sorrowing  people ! 
Chastisement  is  their 


Crnnsfarmiitinii. 


badge — ^^great  tribulation”  is  their  ap- 
pointed discipline.  When  they  enter 
the  gates  of  glory,  he  is  represented 
as  wiping  away  tears  from  their  eyes. 
But,  weeping  ones,  be  comforted ! 
Yonr  Lord’s  special  mission  to  earth — 
the  great  errand  He  came  from  heaven 
to  fulfil,  was  to  ‘‘  bind  up  the  broken- 
hearted.” Your  trials  are  meted  out  by 
a tender  hand.  He  Ttnows  you  too 
well — He  loves  you  too  well — to  make 
this  world  tearless  and  sorrowless? 

There  must  be  rain,  and  hail,  and 
storm,”  saysKutherford,  ^fin  the  saint’s 
cloud,”  Were  your  earthly  course 


< THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


89 


strewed  witli  flowers,  and  nothing  but 
sunbeams  played  around  your  dwelling, 
it  would  lead  you  to  forget  your  nomadic 
life, — that  you  are  but  a sojourner  here. 
The  tent  must  at  times  be  struck,  pin 
by  pin  of  the  moveable  tabernacle 
taken  down,  to  enable  you  to  say  and 
to  feel  in  the  spirit  of  a pilgrim,  I 
desire  a better  country.’’  Meantime, 
while  sorrow  is  your  portion,  think  of 
Him  who  says,  know  your  sorrows.” 
Angels  cannot  say  so — they  cannot 
sympathise  with  you,  for  trial  is  a 
strange  word  to  them.  But  there  is  a 
mightier  than  they  who  can.  All  He 
sends  you  and  appoints  you  is  in  love. 
There  is  a provision  and  condition 
wrapt  up  in  the  bosom  of  every  afflic- 
tion, if  need  he  /”  coming  from  His 
hand,  sorrows  and  riches  are  to  His 
people  convertible  terms.  If  tempted 
to  murmur  at  their  trials,  they  are 
often  murmuring  at  disguised  mercies. 

Why  do  you  ask  me,”  said  Simeon, 
8'- 


90 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


on  his  death-bed,  what  I like  I 
am  the  Lord’s  patient — I cannot  but 
like  every  thing. 

And  then — ‘‘  yonr  sorrow  shall  be 
turned  into  joy.”  “ The  morning  com- 
eth  ” — that  bright  morning  when  the 
dew-drops  collected  during  earth’s  night 
of  weeping  shall  sparkle  in  its  beams  ; 
when  in  one  blessed  moment  a life- 
long experience  of  trial  will  be  effaced 
and  forgotten,  or  remembered  only  by 
contrast,  to  enhance  the  fulness  of  the 
joys  of  immortality.  What  a revela- 
tion of  gladness  ? Tlie  map  of  time 
disclosed,  and  every  little  rill  of  sorrow, 
every  river  will  be  seen  to  have  been 
flowing  heavenwards, — every  rough 
blast  to  have  been  sending  the  bark 
nearer  the  haven  ! In  that  joy,  God 
Himself  will  participate.  In  the  last 
words  of  Jesus  ” to  His  people  when 
they  are  standing  by  the  triumphal 
archway  of  Glory,  ready  to  enter  on 
their  thrones  and  crowns,  He  speaks 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


91 


of  tlieir  joys  as  if  it  were  all  His  own. 
^^Enter  ye  into  the  ]oj  of  your  LordP 
Keader,  may  this  joy  he  yours  ! Sit 
loose  to  the  world’s  joys.  Have  a feel- 
ing of  chastened  gratitude  and  thank- 
fulness when  you  have  them ; hut  be- 
ware of  resting  in  them,  or  investing 
them  with  a permanency  they  cannot 
have.  Jesus  had  his  eye  on  heaven 
when  he  added — 


YOUR  JOT  NO  MAN  TAKETH  FROM  YOU.' 


92 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JliSUS. 


23d  Day. 

“Remember  the  words  of  tbe  Lord  Jesus,  bow  Ee 
said”— 

“ Father,  I will  that  they  also  whom  thou  hast  given  me, 
be  with  me  where  I am  ; that  they  may  behold  my  glory.” — 
Johnxvii.  24. 

claim  of  a con- 
queror. There  was  only  one  request 
He  ever  made,  or  ever  can  make,  that 
was  refused ; it  was  the  prayer  wrung 
forth  by  the  presence  and  power  of 
superhuman  anguish ; Father,  if  it  he 
possible^  let  this  cup  pass  from  me !’’ 
Had  that  prayer  been  answered,  never 
could  one  consolatory  word  of  Jesus’’ 
have  been  ours.  ‘‘If  it  he  possible  y” 
— hut  for  that  gracious  parenthesis,  we 
must  have  been  lost  for  ever!  In 
unmurmuring  submission,  the  bitter 
cup  was  drained  ; all  the  dread  penal- 
ties of  the  law  were  borne,  and  atone- 
ment completed,  an  all-perfect  right- 
eousness wrought  out ; and  now,  as  the 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


93 


stipulated  reward  of  His  obedience  and 
sufferings,  the  Yictor  claims  His  tro- 
phies. What  are  they?  Those  that 
were  given  Him  of  the  Father — the 
countless  multitudes  redeemed  by  His 
blood.  These  He  wills  ” to  be  with 
Him  where  He  is  ” — the  spectators  of 
His  glory,  and  partakers  of  His  crown. 
Wondrous  word  and  will  of  a dying 
testator  ! His  last  prayer  on  earth  is 
an  importunate  pleading  for  their  glori- 
fication ; His  parting  wish  is  to  meet 
them  in  heaven:  as  if  these  earthly 
jewels  were  needed  to  make  His 
crown  complete, — their  happiness  and 
joy  the  needful  complement  of  His 
own ! 

Reader ! learn  from  this,  the  grand 
element  in  the  bliss  of  your  future 
condition — it  is  the  ^presence  of  Christ  / 
with  Me  where  I am.”  It  matters 
comparatively  little  as  to  the  locality  of 
heaven.  ^‘We  shall  see  Him  as  He  is,” 
is  the  ble^d  hope”  of  the  Christian. 


94 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


Heaven  would  be  no  heaven  without 
Jesus;  the  withdrawal  of  His  presence 
would  be  like  the  blotting  out  of  the 
sun  from  the  firmament ; it  would  un- 
crown every  seraph,  and  unstring  every 
harp.  But,  blessed  thought ! it  is  His 
own  stipulation  in  His  testamentary 
prayer,  that  Eternity  is  to  be  spent  in 
union  and  communion  with  Himself^ 
gazing  on  the  unfathomed  mysteries  of 
His  love,  becoming  more  assimilated 
to  His  glorious  image,  and  drinking 
deeper  from  the  ocean  of  His  own  joy. 

If  anything  can  enhance  the  magni- 
tude of  this  promised  bliss,  it  is  the 
concluding  words  of  the  verse,  in  which 
He  grounds  His  plea  for  its  bestow- 
ment : will — ^that  they  behold  my 
glory  — ^why  ? For  Thou  lovedst 
(not  them^  but)  Me  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world  !”  It  is  equivalent  to 
saying,  If  Thou  wouldst  give  Me  a 
continued  proof  of  Thine  everlasting 
love  and  favour  to  Myself,  it  is  by  lov- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


95 


ing  and  exalting  My  redeemed  people. 
In  loving  them  and  glorifying  them. 
Thou  art  loving  and  glorifying  Me  : so 
endearingly  are  their  interests  and  My 
own  bound  up  together 

Believer,  think  of  that  all-prevailing 
voice,  at  this  moment  pleading  for  thee 
within  the  veil! — that  omnipotent  Fa- 
ther^ I securing  every  needed 

boon  ! There  is  given,  so  to  speak,  a 
blank  cheque  by  which  He  and  His 
people  may  draw  indefinite  supplies  out 
of  the  exhaustless  treasury  of  the  Fa- 
ther’s grace  and  love.  God  Himself 
endorses  it  with  the  words,  “ Son, 
Thou  art  ever  with  me,  and  all  that  I 
have  is  Thine.”  How  it  would  recon- 
cile us  to  Earth’s  bitterest  sorrows,  and 
hallow  Earth’s  holiest  joys,  if  we  saw 
them  thus  hanging  on  the  of  an 

all-wise  Intercessor,  who  ever  pleads  in 
love,  and  never  pleads  in  vain  ! 


BE  IT  UNTO  ME  ACCORDING  TO  THY  WORD.' 


96 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


24th  Day. 


“Eemsmber  tbe  words  of  the  Lord  Josus,  bow  He 


“Because  I live,  ye  shall  live  also.” — John  xiv.  19. 


^ ''D  sometimes  selects 
most  stable  and 
luring  obj  ects  in  the 


material  world  to  illustrate  His  un- 
changing faithfulness  and  love  to  His 
Church.  ^^As  the  mountains  are  round 
about  Jerusalem,  so  doth  the  Lord  com- 
pass his  people.”  But  here,  the  Re- 
deemer fetches  an  argument  from  His 
oicn  everlasting  nature.  He  stakes,  so 
to  speak.  His  own  existence  on  that  of 
His  saints.  Because  1 live^  ye  shall 
live  also.” 

Believer!  read  in  this  ^^word  of 
Jesus”  thy  glorious  title-deed,  Thy 
Saviour  lives — and  His  life  is  the  guar- 
antee of  thine  own.  Our  true  Joseph 
is  alive.  ^^He  is  our  Brother.  He  talks 


kindly  to  us  I”  That  life  of  His,  is  all 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESuS. 


97 


that  is  between  ns  and  everlasting  ruin. 
But  with  Christ  for  our  life,  how  invio- 
lable our  security  ! The  great  Foun- 
tain of  being  must  first  be  dried  up, 
before  the  streamlet  can.  The  great 
Sun  must  first  be  quenched,  ere  one 
glimmering  satellite  which  He  lights 
up  with  Ilis  splendor  can.  Satan 
must  first  pluck  the  crown  from  that 
glorified  Head,  before  he  can  touch  one 
j ewel  in  the  crown  of  His  people.  They 
cannot  shake  one  pillar  without  shak- 
ing first  the  throne.  “ If  we  perish,” 
says  Luther,  Christ  perisheth  with 
us.” 

Reader ! is  thy  life  now  hid  with 
Christ  in  God  ?”  Dost  thou  know  the 
blessedness  of  a vital  and  living  union 
with  a living,  life-giving  Saviour  ? 
Canst  thou  say  with  humble  and  joy- 
ous confidence,  amid  the  fitfulness  of 
thine  own  ever-changing  frames  and 
feelings,  ^^Nevertheless,  I live,  yet  not 
I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me  ?”  Jesus 

9 


98 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


liveth  /” — ^They  are  tlie  happiest  words 
a lost  soul  and  a lost  world  can  hear ! 
J objfour thousand  years  agOji’ejoiced  in 
them.  I know,”  says  he,  that  I have 
a living  KinsmanP  John,  in  his  Pat- 
mos  exile,  rejoiced  in  them.  I am  He 
that  liveth”  (or  the  Living  One)^  was  the 
simple  hut  sublime  utterancewith which 
he  was  addressed  by  that  same  Kins- 
man,” when  He  appeared  arrayed  in 
the  lustres  of  His  glorified  humanity. 

This  is  the  record  ” (as  if  there  was  a 
whole  gospel  comprised  in  the  state- 
ment), ^‘that  God  hath  given  to  us  eter- 
nal life,  and  this  life  is  in  His  Son.” 
St.  Paul,  in  the  8th  chapter  to  the  Ro- 
mans— that  finest  portraiture  of  Chris- 
tian character  and  privilege  ever  drawn, 
begins  with  ^^no  condemnation,”  and 
ends  with  no  separation.”  Why  no 
separation  ?”  Because  the  life  of  the 
believer  is  incorporated  with  that  of  his 
adorable  Head  and  Surety.  The  colos- 
sal Heart  of  redeemed  humanity  beats 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  99 

upon  the  throne,  sending  its  mighty 
pulsations  through  every  member  of 
His  body;  so  that,  before  the  believer’s 
spiritual  life  can  be  destroyed.  Omnipo- 
tence must  become  feebleness,  and  Im- 
mutability become  mutable  ! 

But,  blessed  Jesus,  ^^Thy  word  is 
very  sure,  therefore  Thy  servant  loveth 
it.” 


I GIVE  UNTO  THEM  ETERNAL  LIFE,  AND  THEY  SHALL 
NEVER  PERISH,  NEITHER  SHALL  ANT  MAN 
PLUCK  THEM  OUT  OF  MY  HAND.” 


100 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


25th  Day. 

“ Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ Lo,  I am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world.” — Matt,  xxviii.  20. 

Such  were  ^^the  words  of 
Jesus  ” when  He  was  just 
about  to  ascend  to  Heaven. 
The  mediatorial  throne  was  in  view — 
the  harps  of  glory  were  sounding  in  His 
ears  ; but  all  His  thoughts  are  on  the 
pilgrim  Church  He  is  to  leave  behind. 
His  last  words  and  benedictions  are  for 
them.  “ I go,”  He  seems  to  say,  to 
Heaven,  to  my  purchased  crown— to  the 
fellowship  of  angels — to  the  presence  of 
my  Father;  nevertheless,  ^ Lo ! I 
am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end 
of  the  world.’  ” 

How  faithfully  did  the  Apostles,  to 
whom  this  promise  was  first  addressed, 
experience  its  reality  ! Hear  the  testi- 
mony of  the  beloved  disciple  who  had 


THE  WOHDS  OF  JESTJS. 


101 


once  leant  on  liis  Divine  Master’s  bosom 
— who  ^^had  heardjand  seen, and  looked 
npon  Him.”  That  glorified  bosom  was 
now  hid  from  his  sight ; but  does  he 
speak  of  an  absent  Lord,  and  of  His  fel- 
lowship only  as  among  the  holy  mem- 
ories of  the  past  ? No ! with  rejoicing 
emphasis  he  can  exclaim — Truly  our 
fellowship  IS  with  ....  Jesus  Chvist,^'^ 
Amid  so  much  that  is  fugitive  here, 
how  the  heart  clings  to  this  assurance  of 
the  abiding  presence  of  the  Saviour  ! 
Our  best  earthly  friends — a few  weeks 
may  estrange  them; — centuries  have 
rolled  on — Christ  is  still  the  same. 
How  blessed  to  think,  that  if  I am  in- 
deed a child  of  God,  there  is  not  the 
lonely  instant  I am  without  His  guard- 
ianship ! When  the  beams  of  the  morn- 
ing visit  my  chamber,  the  brighter 
beams  of  a brighter  Sun  are  shining 
upon  me.  When  the  shadows  of  even- 
ing are  gathering  around,  it  is  not 
night,  if  He,  the  unsetting  ‘ Sun  of 


102 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


my  soul,’  is  near.”  His  is  no  fitful  com- 
panionship-present in  prosperity, gone 
in  adversity.  He  never  changes.  He 
is  always  the  same, — in  sickness  and 
solitude,  in  joy  and  in  sorrow,  in  life 
and  in  death.  Hot  more  faithfully  did 
the  pillar-cloud  and  column  of  fire  of 
old  precede  Israel,  till  the  last  murmur- 
ing ripple  of  Jordan  fell  on  their  ears  on 
the  shores  of  Canaan,  than  does  the  pre- 
sence and  love  of  Jesus  abide  with  His 
people.  Has  His  word  of  promise  ever 
proved  false  ? Let  the  great  cloud  of 
witnesses  now  in  glory  testify.  Hot 
one  thing  hath  failed  of  all  that  the 
Lord  our  God  hath  spoken.”  This 
^^word  of  the  Lord  is  tried” — ^Giaving 
loved  His  own,  which  were  in  the  world. 
He  loved  them  unto  the  end^'^ 

Believer?  art  thou  troubled  and 
tempted?  Do  dark  providences  and 
severe  afflictions  seem  to  belie  the  truth 
and  reality  of  this  gracious  assurance  ? 
Art  thou  ready,  with  Gideon,  to  say. 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


103 


“ If  the  Lord  be  indeed  with  ns,  why 
has  all  this  befallen  ns  Be  assured 
He  has  some  faithful  end  in  view.  By 
the  removal  of  prized  and  cherished 
earthly  props  and  refuges.  He  would 
unfold  more  of  his  own  tenderness. 
Amid  the  wreck  and  ruin  of  earthly 
joys,  which,  it  may  be,  the  grave  has 
hidden  from  your  sight.  One  nearer, 
dearer,  tenderer  still,  would  have  you 
say  of  Himself,  Lord  liveth  ; and 

blessed  be  my  Bock ; and  let  the  God  of 
my  salvation  be  exalted.”  ‘‘  Thanks 
be  to  God,  who  always  maketh  us  to 
triumph  in  Christ.”  Yes  ! and  never 
more  so  than  when,  stripped  of  all  com- 
peting objects  of  creature  affection,  we 
are  left,  like  the  disciples  on  the  mount, 
with  ‘‘Jesus  only .'” 

“ THESE  THINGS  HAVE  I SPOKEN  UNTO  YOU,  THAT  IN 
ME  YE  MIGHT  HAVE  PEACE.” 


104 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


26th  Dat. 


‘^Kemenilier  the  words  of  the  lord  Jesus,  how  He 


“ I am  the  resurrection  and  the  life  ; he  that  believeth 
in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet  he  shall  live.”— John  xi. 
25. 


What  a voice  is  this 
breaking  over  a world 
which  for  six  thou- 


CljB  lUsurrrrtinii 

riff. 


sand  years  has  been  a dormitory  of  sin 
and  death ! F or  four  thousand  of  these 
yearSjheathendom  could  descry  no  light 
through  the  bars  of  the  grave ; her  ora- 
cles were  dumb  on  the  great  doctrine  of 
a future  state,  and  more  especially  re- 
garding the  body’s  resurrection.  Even 
the  Jewish  Church,  under  the  Old  Tes- 
tament dispensation,  seemed  to  enjoy 
little  more  than  fitful  and  uncertain 
glimmerings,  like  men  groping  in  the 
dark.  It  required  death’s  great  Abol- 
isher  to  show  to  a benighted  world,  the 
luminous  path  of  life,”  With  Him 
rested  the  bringing  in  of  a better 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


105 


hope” — the  unfolding  of  ‘^the  mystery 
which  had  been  hid  from  ages  and  gen- 
erations.” Marvellous  disclosure ! that 
this  mortal  frame,  decomposed  and 
resolved  into  its  original  dust,  shall  yet 
start  from  its  ashes,  remodelled  and  re- 
constructed— a glorified  body !”  Not 
like  the  earthly  tabernacle  ” (a  mere 
shifting  and  moveable  tent^  as  the  word 
denotes),  but  incorruptible — immortal ! 
The  beauteous  transformation  of  the  in- 
sect from  its  chrysalis  state — the  buried 
seed  springing  up  from  its  tiny  grave  to 
the  full-eared  corn  or  gorgeous  flower— 
these  are  nature’s  mute  utterances  as  to 
the  possibility  of  this  great  truth,  which 
required  the  unfoldings  of  ^^amore  sure 
word  of  prophecy.”  But  the  Gospel  has 
fully  revealed  what  Reason,in  her  lofti- 
est imaginings,  could  not  have  dreamt 
of,  Jesus  ^4iath  brought  life  and  immor- 
tality to  light.”  He,  the  Bright  and 
Morning  Star,  hath  ^Hurned  the  shadow 
of  death  into  the  morning.”  lie  gives, 


106 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


in  His  own  resurrection,  the  earnest  of 
that  of  His  people ; — He  is  the  first- 
fruits  of  the  immortal  harvest  yet  to  he 
gathered  into  the  garner  of  Heaven. 

Precious  truth  ! This  “ word  of 
Jesus  ’’  spans  like  a celestial  rainbow 
the  entrance  to  the  dark  valley.  Death 
is  robbed  of  its  sting.  In  the  case  of 
every  child  of  God,  the  grave  holds  in 
custody  precious,  because  redeemed, 
dust.  Talk  of  it  not,  as  being  com- 
mitted to  a dishonoured  tomb  ! — it  is 
locked  up,  rather,  in  the  casket,  of  God 
until  the  day  when  He  maketh  up  His 
jewels,’’  when  it  will  be  fashioned  in 
deathless  beauty  like  unto  the  glorified 
body  of  the  Redeemer.  Angels,  mean- 
while, are  commissioned  to  keep  watch 
over  it,  till  the  trump  of  the  archangel 
shall  proclaim  the  great  Easter  of 
creation.”  They  are  the  reapers,” 
waiting  for  the  world’s  great  Harvest 
Home,”  when  Jesus  Himself  shall  come 
again — not  as  He  once  did,  humiliated 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


107 


and  ill  sorrow,  but  rejoicing  in  the 
thought  of  bringingback  all  His  sheaves 
with  him. 

Afflicted  and  bereaved  Christian ! — 
thou  who  mayst  be  mourning  in  bit- 
terness those  who  are  not — rejoice 
through  thy  tears  in  these  hopes  full 
of  immortality.’’  The  silver  cord  is 
only  loosed,”  not  broken.  Perchance, 
as  thou  standest  in  the  chamber  of 
death,  or  by  the  brink  of  the  grave, — in 
the  depths  of  that  awful  solitude  and 
silence  which  reigns  around, — this  may 
be  thy  plaintive  and  mournful  soliloquy 
- — Shall  the  dust  praise  Thee  ?”  Yes, 
it  shall!  This  very  dust  that  hears 
now  unheeded  thy  footsteps,  and  un- 
moved thy  tears,  shall  through  eternity 
praise  its  redeeming  God — it  sliall  pro- 
claim His  truth ! 


“ LORD,  TO  WHOM  SHALL  WE  GO  BUT  UNTO  THEE, 
THOU  HAST  THE  WORDS  OP  ETERNAL  LIFE.” 


108  THE  WORDS  OP  JESUS. 


27  th  Day, 

“ Bemember  tlie  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”- 

“ A little  while,  and  ye  shall  not  see  me  ; and  again,  a 
little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me,  because  I go  to  the 
Father.”— John  xvi.  16. 


Long  seem  the  moments 
when  we  are  separated 
from  the  friend  we  love. 


€lje  Xittln 


An  absent  brother — how  his  return  is 
looked  and  longed  for ! The  Elder 
Brother” — the  ^‘Living  Kinsman” — 
sends  a message  to  His  waiting  Church 
and  people — a word  of  solace,  telling 
that  S0071  a little  while,”)  and  He 
will  be  back  again,  never  again  to  leave 
them. 

There  are  indeed  blessed  moments  of 
communion  which  the  believer  enjoys 
with  His  beloved  Lord  7iow  ; but  how 
fitful  and  transient ! To-day,  life  is  a 
brief  Emmausj  ourney — the  soul  happy 
in  the  presence  and  love  of  an  unseen 
Saviour.  To-morrow,  He  is  gone  ; and 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  109 

the  bereft  spirit  is  led  to  interrogate  it- 
self in  plaintive  sorrow, — Where  is 
now  thy  God  Even  when  there  is 
no  such  experience  of  darkness  and 
depression,  how  much  there  is  in  the 
world  around  to  fill  the  believer  with 
sadness  ! His  Lord  rejected  and  dis- 
owned— His  love  set  at  nought — His 
providences  slighted — His  name  blas- 
phemed— His  creation  groaning  and 
travailing  in  pain — disunion, too,  among 
His  people — His  loving  heart  wounded 
in  the  house  of  His  friends ! 

But  yet  a little  while,”  and  all  this 
mystery  of  iniquity  will  be  finished. 
The  absent  Brother’s  footfall  will  soon 
be  heard, — no  longer  ‘‘  as  a wayfaring 
man  who  turneth  aside  to  tarry  for  a 
night,”  but  to  receive  His  people  into 
the  permanent  mansions  ” His  love 
has  been  preparing,  and  from  which 
they  shall  go  no  more  out.  Oh,  blessed 
day ! when  creation  will  put  on  her 
Easter  robes — when  her  Lord,  so  long 
10 


no 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


dishonoured, will  be  enthroned  amid  the 
hosannahs  of  a rejoicing  universe — 
angels  lauding  Him — saints  crowning 
Him — sin,  the  dark  plague-spot  on  His 
universe,  extinguished  for  ever — death 
swallowed  up  in  eternal  victory. 

And  it  is  but  a little  while !” 
‘‘  Yet  a little  while,’’  we  elsewhere 
read,  and  He  that  shall  come,  will 
come,  and  will  not  tarry  ” (literally,  a 
little  while  as  may  be.”)  He  will 
stay  not  a moment  longer,”  says  Good- 
win, ‘‘  than  He  hath  despatched  all  our 
business  in  Heaven  for  us.”  With 
what  joy  will  He  send  His  mission- An- 
gel with  the  announcement,  ‘Hhe  little 
while  is  at  an  end  and  to  issue  the 
invitation  to  the  great  festival  of  glory. 

Come  ! for  all  things  are  ready  !” 

Child  of  sorrow  ! think  often  of  this 
“ little  %cliile.^'^  ‘‘  The  days  of  thy 
mourning  will  soon  be  ended.”  There 
is  a limit  set  to  thy  suffering  time, — 
^^After  that  ye  have  suffered  a while.” 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS.  Ill 

Every  wave  is  numbered  between  you 
and  the  haven  ; and  then  when  that 
haven  is  reached,  oh,  what  an  apoca- 
lypse of  glory  ! — the  little  while  ” of 
time  merged  into  the  great  and  unend- 
ing while  of  eternity  ? — for  ever 
with  the  Lord — the  same  unchanged 
and  unchanging  Saviour ! 

A little  while,  and  ye  shall  see 
me !’’  Would  that  the  eye  of  faith 
might  be  kept  more  intently  fixed  on 
that  glorious  appearing  How  the 
world,  with  its  guilty  fascinations,  tries 
to  dim  and  obscure  this  blessed  hope  ! 
How  the  heart  is  prone  to  throw  out 
its  fibres  here,  and  get  them  rooted  in 
some  perishable  object ! Header ! seek 
to  dwell  more  habitually  on  this  the 
grand  consummation  of  all  thy  dearest 
wishes.  Stand  on  the  edge  of  your 
nest,  pluming  your  wings  for  flight.^’ 
Like  the  mother  of  Sisera,  be  looking 
for  the  expected  chariot. 


HE  IS  FAITHFUL  THAT  PROMISED. 


112 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


28th  Day, 


“ Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God,”: — 
Matt.  V.  8. 


Here  is  Heaven  ! This 
‘‘  word  of  JesRS  ” repre- 
sents the  future  state  of 


iisiDH, 


the  glorified  to  consist  not  in  locality, 
but  in  character ; the  essence  of  its  bliss 
is  the  full  vision  and  fruition  of  God. 
Our  attention  is  called  from  all  vague 
and  indefinite  theories  about  the  cir- 
cumstantials of  future  happiness.  The 
one  grand  object  of  contemplation— the 
glory  which  excelleth,”  is  the  sight  of 
God  Himself!  The  one  grand  practi- 
cal lesson  enforced  on  His  people,  is  the 
cultivation  of  that  purity  of  heart  with- 
out which  none  could  see^  or  (even 
could  we  suppose  it  possible  to  be  ad- 
mitted to  see  Him)  none  could  engoy 
God ! The  kingdom  of  Heaven  com- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


113 


etli  not  with  observation  . . . the  king- 
dom of  God  is  within  yon.” 

Reader,  hast  thou  attained  any  of 
this  heart-purity  and  heart-prepara- 
tion ? It  has  been  beautifully  said 
that  the  openings  of  the  streets  of 
heaven  are  on  earth.”  Even  here  we 
may  enjoy,  in  the  possession  of  holiness, 
some  foretaste  of  coming  bliss.  Who  has 
not  felt  that  the  happiest  moments 
of  their  lives  were  those  of  close  walk- 
ing with  God — nearness  to  the  mercy- 
seat- — when  self  was  surrendered,  and 
the  eye  was  directed  to  the  glory  of 
Jesus,  with  most  single,  unwavering, 
undivided  aim?  What  will  Heaven  be, 
but  the  entire  surrender  of  the  soul  to 
Him,  without  any  bias  to  evil,  without 
the  fear  of  corruption  within  echoing 
to  temptation  without ; every  thought 
brought  into  captivity  to  the  obedience 
of  Christ ; no  contrariety  to  His  mind  ; 
all  in  blessed  unison  with  His  will ; 
the  whole  being  impregnate^  with  holi- 
10’*' 


114 


THE  WOKDS  OF  JESUS. 


ness — the  intellect  purified  and  enno- 
bled, consecrating  all  its  powers  to  His 
service — memory,  a holy  repository  of 
pure  and  hallowed  recollections — the 
afiections,  without  one  competing  rival, 
purged  from  all  the  dross  of  earthliness 
— the  love  of  God,  the  one  supreme 
animating  passion — the  glory  of  God, 
the  motive  principle  interfused  through 
every  thought,  and  feeling,  and  action 
of  the  life  immortal ; in  one  word,  the 
heart  a pellucid  fountain ; no  sediment 
to  dim  its  purity,  no  angel  of  sorrow  ” 
to  come  and  trouble  the  pool ! The  long 
night  of  life  over,  and  this  the  glory  of 
the  eternal  morrow  which  succeeds  it ! 
‘‘1  shall  be  satisfied  when  I awake,  with 
Thy  likeness.^’ 

Yes,  this  is  Heaven,  subjectively  and 
objectively— heart  and  “God 
all  in  allP^  Much,  doubtless,  there 
may  and  will  be  of  a subordinate  kind, 
to  intensify  the  bliss  of  the  redeemed  ; 
communion  with  saints  and  angels; 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  115 

re-admission  into  the  society  of  death- 
divided  friends : but  all  these  will  fade 
before  the  great  central  glory,  “ God 
Himself  shall  be  with  them,  and  be 
their  God;  they  shall  see  His  face 
Believers  have  been  aptly  called  helio- 
tropes— turning  their  faces  as  the  sun- 
flower towards  the  Sunt  of  Bighteous- 
ness,  and  hanging  their  leaves  in  sad- 
ness and  sorrow,  when  that  Sun  is 
away.  It  will  be  in  heaven  the  em- 
blem is  complete.  There^  every  flower 
in  the  heavenly  garden  will  be  turned 
God  wards,  bathing  its  tints  of  loveli- 
ness in  the  glory  that  excelleth ! 
Header,  may  it  be  yours,  when  o’er- 
canopied  by  that  cloudless  sky,  to  know 
all  the  marvels  contained  in  these  few 
glowing  words,  “ We  shall  be  like 
Him,  for  we  shall  see  him  as  He  is.” 

“ AND  EVERT  MAN  THAT  HATH  THIS  HOPE  IN  HIM  PURIFIETH 
* HIMSELF  EVEN  AS  HE  IS  PURE.” 


116 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


29th  Day. 

“ Remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said”— 

“ In  my  Father’s  house  are  many  mansions.” — John  xiv.  2. 


Snnsinns.  Jesns!”  lie  comforts 
His  Cliiircli  by  telling  them  that  soon 
their  wilderness-wanderings  will  be 
finished, — the  tented  tabernacle  suited 
to  their  present  probation-state  ex- 
changed for  the  enduring  mansion !” 
Nor  will  it  be  in  any  strange  dwelling : 
a Father^ s home — a Father^ s welcome 
awaits  them.  There  will  be  accom- 
modation for  all.  Thousands  have 
already  entered  its  shining  gates, — 
patriarchs,  prophets,  saints,  martyrs, 
young  and  old,  and  still  there  is  room  ! 

The  pilgrim’s  motto  on  earth  is, 
“ Here  we  have  no  continuing  city.” 
Even  Sabbath  tents  ” must  be  struck. 
Holv  seasons  of  communion  must  ter- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  117 

minate.  Arise,  let  ns  go  hence  !”  is 
a snmmons  which  disturbs  the  sweetest 
moments  of  tranquillity  in  the  Church 
below  ; but  m Hemen^  every  believer 
becomes  a pillar  in  the  temple  of  God, 
and  “ he  shall  go  no  more  outP  Here  it 
is  but  the  lodging  of  a wayfarer  turn- 
ing aside  to  tarry  for  the  brief  night  of 
earth.  Here  we  are  but  tenants  at 
will our  possessions  are  but  move- 
ables— ours  to-day,  gone  to-morrow. 
But  these  many  mansions  ” are  an 
inheritance  incorruptible  and  unfading. 
Nothing  can  touch  the  heavenly  patri- 
mony. Once  within  the  F ather’s  house, 
and  we  are  in  the  house  forever ! 

Think,  too,  of  Jesus,  gone  io  prejpare 
these  mansions, — ‘‘  I go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you.”  What  a wondrous 
thought — Jesus  now  busied  in  Heaven 
in  His  Church’s  behalf ! He  can  find 
no  abode  in  all  His  wide  dominions, 
befitting  as  a permanent  dwelling  for 
His  ransomed  ones.  He  says,  I will 


118 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


make  new  heavens  and  a new  earth. 
I will  found  a special  kingdom — I will 
rear  eternal  mansions  expressly  for  those 
I have  redeemed  with  my  blood!’’ 

Reader,  let  the  prospect  of  a dwell- 
ing in  this  house  of  the  Lord  for 
ever,”  reconcile  thee  to  any  of  the 
roughnesses  or  difficulties  in  thy  present 
path — to  thy  pilgrim  provision  and 
pilgrim  fare.  Let  the  distant  beacon- 
light,  that  so  cheeringly  speaks  of  a 
Home  brighter  and  better  far  than  the 
happiest  of  earthly  ones,  lead  thee  to 
forget  the  intervening  billows,  or  to 
think  of  them  only  as  wafting  thee 
nearer  and  nearer  to  thy  desired  haven  I 
“"Would,”  says  a saint,  who  has  now 
entered  on  his  rest,  “ that  one  could 
read,  and  write,  and  pray,  and  eat  and 
drink,  and  compose  one’s  self  to  sleep, 
as  with  the  thought, — soon  to  be  in 
heaven,  and  that  for  ever  and  ever !” 

“ My  Father’s  house  I”  How  many 
a departing  spirit  has  been  cheered  and 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS,  119 

consoled  by  tlie  sight  of  these  glorious 
Mansions  looming  through  the  mists  of 
the  dark  valley, — the  tears  of  weeping 
friends  rebuked  by  the  gentle  chiding 
— If  ye  loved  me,  ye  would  rejoice, 
because  I said,  I go  unto  my  Father 
Death  truly  is  but  the  entrance  to  this 
our  Father’s  house.  We  speak  of  the 
‘‘shadow  of  death^'^ — it  is  only  the 
shadow  which  falls  on  the  portico  as 
we  stand  for  a moment  knocking  at 
the  longed-for  gate  — the  next ! a 
Father’s  voice  of  welcome  is  heard — 

“ sox  ! THOU  ART  EVER  WITH  ME,  AND  ALL  THAT  I HATE 
IS  THINE.” 


120  THE  WORDS  OP  JESUS. 


80th  Dat. 


“Remember  tbe  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 
said 

“I  will  come  again,  and  receive  you  unto  myself;  that 
where  I am,  there  ye  may  be  also.”— John  xiv.  S. 


Akother  word  of 
promise  ” concerning 


^ Jl  V-^ V-'Xa  vy\^JL  X-LXXX^^ 

lultltn*  Chnrcli’s  blessed 

hope.”  Orphaned  pilgrims,  dry  your 
tears  ! Soon  the  Morning  Hour  will 
strike,  and  the  sighs  of  a groaning  and 
burdened  creation  be  heard  no  more. 
Earth’s  six  thousand  years  of  toil  and 
sorrow  are  waning;  the  Millennial  Sab- 
bath is  at  hand.  Jesus  will  soon  be 
heard  to  repeat  concerning  all  his  sleep- 
ing saints,  what  He  said  of  old  regard- 
ing one  of  them : I go  to  awake  them 
out  of  sleep !”  Your  beloved  Lord’s  first 
coming  was  in  humiliation  and  woe  ; 
His  name  was — ^the  ^^Man  of  Sorrows;” 
He  had  to  travel  on,  amid  darkness  and 
desertion,  His  blood-stained  path ; a 


THE  WOEDS  OF  JESUS. 


121 


chaplet  of  thorns  was  the  only  crown 
He  bore.  But  soon  He  will  come/^  the 
second  time  without  a sin-offering  unto 
salvation,’’  never  again  to  leave  His 
Church,  but  to  receive  those  who  fol- 
lowed Him  in  His  cross,  to  be  everlast- 
ing partakers  with  Him  in  His  crown. 
He  may  seem  to  tarry.  External  na- 
ture, in  her  unvarying  and  undeviating 
sequences,  gives  no  indication  of  His 
approach.  Centuries  have  elapsed 
since  He  uttered  the  promise,  and  still 
He  lingers  ; the  everlasting  hills  wear 
no  streak  of  approaching  dawn  ; we 
seem  to  listen  in  vain  for  the  noise  of 
His  chariot  wheels.  “ But  the  Lord  is 
not  slack  concerning  His  promise 
He  gives  you  “ this  word  ” in  addition 
to  many  others  as  a Tceejpsahe — a pledge 
and  guarantee  for  the  certainty  of  His 
return, — I will  come  againP 

Who  can  conceive  all  the  surpassing 
blessedness  connected  with  that  advent? 
The  Elder  Brother  arrived  to  fetch  the 
11 


122 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


younger  brethren  home  ! — the  true 
J oseph  revealing  Himself  in  unutter- 
able tenderness  to  the  brethren  who 
were  once  estranged  from  Him — re- 
ceiving them  unto  himself’’ — not  satis- 
fied with  apportioning  a kingdom  for 
them,  but,  as  if  all  His  own  joy  and 
bliss  were  intermingled  with  theirs. 
Where  ^ am,”  says  He,  ^Hhere  you 
must  be  also.”  Him  that  over- 
cometh,”  says  He  again,  will  I grant 
to  sit  with  Me  on  My  throne.” 

Believer,  can  you  now  say  with 
some  of  the  holy  transport  of  the 
apostle,  Whom  having  not  seen,  we 
love?”  What  must  it  be  when  you  come 
to  see  Him  face  to  face,”  and  that 
for  ever  and  ever  ? If  you  can  tell 
of  precious  hours  of  communion  in  a 
sin-stricken,  woe-worn  world,  with  a 
treacherous  heart,  and  an  imperfect  or 
divided  love,  what  must  it  be  when 
you  come,  in  a sinless,  sorrowless  state, 
with  purified  and  renewed  affections,  to 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  123 

see  tlie  King  in  His  beantj ! The 
letter  of  an  absent  brother,  cheering 
and  cansolatory  as  it  is,  is  a poor  com- 
pensation for  the  joys  of  personal  and 
visible  communion.  The  absent  Elder 
Brother  on  the  Tlirone  speaks  to  you 
now  only  by  His  Word  and  Spirit, — 
soon  you  shall  be  admitted  to  His  im- 
mediate fellowship,  seeing  him  as 
He  is  ’’ — He  Himself  unfolding  the 
wondrous  chart  of  His  providence  and 
grace— leading  you  about  from  fountain 
to  fountain  among  the  living  waters, 
and  with  his  own  gentle  hand  wiping 
the  last  lingering  tear-drop  from  your 
eye.  Heaven  an  everlasting  home  with 
Jesus  ! Where  I am,  there  ye  may 
be  also.” — He  has  appended  a cheering 
postscript  to  this  word,  on  which  He 
has  caused  us  to  hope — 

“he  which  testifieth  these  things  saith,  surely  I 

COME  QUIC'KLY.” 


124 


THE  WORDS  OP  JESHS. 


81st  Dat. 


“Eemember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  He 


“Blessed  are  those  servants  whom  the  Lord  when  He 
cometh  shall  find  watching.”— Luke  xii.  37. 


Child  of  God  ! is  this 
thine  attitude,  as  the  ex- 


aoEUBllittinil,  pectant  of  thy  Lord’s  ap- 
pearing? Are  thy  loins  girded,  and 
thy  lights  burning  ? If  the  cry  were  to 
break  upon  thine  ears  this  day,  “ Be- 
hold the  Bridegroom  cometh,”  couldst 
thou  joyfully  respond — ^‘Lo,  this  is  my 
God,  I have  waited  for  him!”  When 
He  may  come,  we  cannot  tell ; — ages 
may  elapse  before  then.  It  may  be 
centuries  before  our  graves  are  gilded 
with  the  beams  of  a Millennial  sun;  but 
while  He  may  or  may  not  come  soon^ 
He  must  come  at  some  time — ay,  and 
the  day  of  our  death  is  virtually  to  all 
of  us  the  day  of  His  coming. 

Reader  1 put  not  off  the  solemn  pre- 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 


125 


paration.  Be  not  deceived  or  deluded 
with  the  mocker’s  presumptuous  chal- 
lenge, Where  is  the  promise  of  His 
coming?”  See  to  it  that  the  calls  of  an 
engrossing  world  without,  do  not  foster 
this  procrastinating  spirit  within.  It 
may  he  now  or  never  with  thee.  Put 
not  off  thy  sowing  time  till  harvest 
time.  Leave  nothing  for  a dying  hour, 
hut  to  die^  and  calmly  to  resign  thy  spirit 
into  the  hands  of  Jesus.  Of  all  times, 
that  is  the  least  suitable  to  have  the 
vessel  plenished — to  attend  to  the  great 
business  of  life  when  life  is  ebbing — ^to 
trim  the  lamp  when  the  oil  is  done  and 
it  is  flickering  in  its  socket — to  begin 
to  watch,  when  the  summons  is  heard 
to  leave  the  watch-tower  to  meet  our 
God! 

Were  you  never  struck  how  often, 
amid  the  many  gentle  words  of  Jesus, 
the  summons  to  watch,”  is  over  and 
over  repeated,  like  a succession  of 
alarum-bells  breaking  ever  and  anon, 
1 r 


126  THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS. 

amid  chimes  of  heavenly  music,  to 
rouse  a sleeping  Church  and  a slumber- 
ing world  ? 

Let  this  last  Word  ” of  thy  Lord’s 
send  thee  to  thy  knees  with  the  ques- 
tion,— ^^Am  I indeed  a servant  of 
Christ  ?”  Have  I fled  to  Him,  and  am 
I reposing  in  Him,  as  my  only  Saviour? 
— or  am  I still  lingering,,  like  Lot, 
when  I should  be  escaping — sleeping, 
when  I should  be  waking — neglecting 
and  trifling,  when  a long  eternity  is 
lying  at  my  door  ?”  He  is  my  last  and 
only  refuge  ; neglect  Him — all  is  lost ! 

Believer  ? thou  who  art  standing  on 
thy  watch-tower,  be  more  faithful  than 
ever  at  thy  post.  Bern  ember  what  is 
implied  in  watching.  It  is  no  dreamy 
state  of  inactive  torpor : it  is  a holy 
jealousy  over  the  heart — wakeful  vigi- 
lance regarding  sin— every  avenue  and 
loophole  of  the  soul  carefully  guarded. 
Holy  living  is  the  best,  the  only^  pre- 
parative for  holy  dying,  Persuade 


THE  WORDS  OF  JESUS.  127 

yourself/’  says  Eutlierford,  tlie  King 
is  coming.  Read  His  letter  sent  be- 
fore Him,  ^ Behold  I come  quickly  / 
wait  with  the  wearied  night-watch  for 
the  breaking  of  the  Eastern  sky.” 

Let  these  “ Words  of  Jesus  ” we  have 
now  been  meditating  upon  in  this  little 
volume,  be  as  the  Golden  Bells  of  old, 
hung  on  the  vestments  of  the  officiating 
High  Priest,  emitting  sweet  sounds  to 
His  spiritual  Israel — telling  that  the 
true  High  Priest  is  still  living  and 
pleading  in  the  Holiest  of  all and 
that  soon  He  will  come  forth  to  pour  His 
blessing  on  His  waiting  Church.  We 
have  been  pleasingly  employed  in  ga- 
thering up  afew  ^^crumbs”  fallingfrom 
the  Master’s  table.”  Soon  we  shall 
have,  not  the  Words^'^  but  presence 
of  Jesus — ^not  the  crumbs  falling  from 
His  table,  but  everlasting  fellowship 
with  the  Master  Himself. 


Comfort  #iir  ^uot^or 

toitlr 


1 Thkss.  Iv.  is. 


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